England vs – England and Croatia renew a painful World Cup storyline in Group L, with fans still haunted by 2018. Luka Modrić’s likely final tournament adds urgency, while a tricky path through Ghana and Panama could decide who moves on.
England’s players are about to step into a World Cup that feels different for them. not because the stakes are new. but because the bruises are. Mexico and South Africa are among the nations getting ready to kick off the 2026 World Cup in only a few days. with 46 other countries finishing their preparations before what’s billed as a long summer of possibilities across North America.
For England, though, optimism has rarely arrived on time. The country has lost back-to-back European Championship Finals. and it’s still haunted by the sense that the ball won’t quite land for them when it matters most. English fans have been here before—hovering near belief, then watching it slip away.
In Group L, that emotion concentrates quickly: England vs. Croatia is the game that feels personal.
Eight years ago, England thought it was finally happening. The run to the World Cup semifinals put a plucky Croatia squad in front of them. and Kieran Trippier scored in the opening five minutes. For a nation that has long carried a heavy label in soccer terms. it was the kind of start that turned ever-pessimistic English fans into something closer to certainty.
Then Croatia answered. They tied the match in the second half. and Mario Mandžukić struck in extra time to send Croatia to an unprecedented World Cup Final. Now. even with England having won the last two times these teams met in official competition—including a Euro win in 2021—this matchup doesn’t feel like just another meeting.
A win at the World Cup wouldn’t erase the specific heartbreak of 2018. But it could serve as something smaller and sharper: a thin line of revenge. If Croatia wins instead, the damage could be deeper than a single result. The fear inside England is plain—if Croatia repeats the script. it might mentally break the people who have endured every near-miss.
Luka Modrić becomes the other pressure point in Group L. In a tournament that could be the last for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Modrić might be overshadowed in what will be not only his final international games of his career. but his final professional games. Modrić is reportedly set to retire after the end of the tournament for Croatia. after a tumultuous season in Italy with Milan.
It means the stage is set for a farewell that won’t wait for sentiment. Modrić’s performance at the 2018 World Cup helped earn him the Ballon d’Or while he was a member of Real Madrid. And even at 40. the talk around the midfield is still the same: there are only a few players you’d take over Modrić in a do-or-die game.
There’s also the wider shape of Group L to consider. Ghana is weaker than in previous editions of the tournament. with a very exploitable defense. and that’s the kind of opening England and Croatia will look to punish in their games. Panama will bring the grit and physicality they’re known for. but the expectation is that they should finish fourth—unless they find a way to upset Ghana.
England is viewed as the most talented team in the group, with the pick to come out on top. But the shadow of 2018 refuses to move. If Croatia finds a way to do them in again, it won’t be a clean story for England—and it could become a rough summer for manager Thomas Tuchel.
The tournament is only days away from truly beginning, and Group L already feels like it’s offering two kinds of endings: one for nations chasing redemption, and one for a legend nearing the close of his career.
2026 World Cup Group L England vs Croatia Kieran Trippier Mario Mandzukic Luka Modric Thomas Tuchel Ghana Panama