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England light up Dallas as Kane and Bellingham fire statement win

England exploded into life in Dallas, blending attacking swagger with cutting edge as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham inspired a statement win over Croatia. Under Thomas Tuchel, there is a clear identity taking shape: bold, intelligent and ruthlessly effective. This might just be the start of something, writes PHIL MARTIN.

18.06.26, 05:38 Updated 18.06.26, 10:20 5 Minute Read

Phil Martin

Phil Martin

In the home of the Dallas Cowboys, this had all the drama of a rootin-tootin Texas Western: wide open, unpredictable, a gunslinging marksman in Harry Kane and one which culminated in one side eventually outshooting the other. A World Cup classic in which England were well worth the win against Croatia, in a game that never fully settled in the opening 45 minutes, swinging between control and chaos inside the vast, air-conditioned arena: a supersized Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Phil Martin

Phil Martin Author, journalist and veteran of eight major tournaments, and England top capper, with a background in sports writing, editing and publishing.

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