“ENGLAND VS CROATIA WORLD CUP THRILLER: THREE LIONS HIT FOUR IN CHAOTIC SHOWDOWN AS KANE, BELLINGHAM AND RASHFORD RUN RIOT IN A GAME FILLED WITH DRAMA, GOALS AND DEFENSIVE FRIGHT FOR GARETH SOUTHGATE”!England produced a high-voltage World Cup performance, tearing into Croatia with relentless attacking power in a 4–2 victory that had fans on the edge of their seats.

In the minutes after England had beaten Croatia, Harry Kane stood at the front of the England players who had gathered at the far end of the AT&T Stadium, where the late afternoon sunlight was streaming in through the windows on the top tiers.

The giant scoreboard, so big that it sometimes felt as if it were obscuring the view of the pitch, announced that Kane had been adjudged man of the match and the England fans massed in that stand began to serenade their captain.

England had started their campaign with a 4-2 win and suddenly, dreams had been unleashed. The same dreams that England dream every tournament, the same dreams that have been dashed for the last 58 years. ‘Jules Rimet still gleaming,’ the England fans yelled and hope reigned eternal.

He [Harry Kane] is unstoppable. I think he wins the Golden Boot, I really do. I mean look at the season he has just had in Germany. He looks to be in the best shape he has ever been in.

I just hope we continue to play a brand of football that creates enough opportunities. He obviously has teammates to do it in [Bukayo] Saka, [Jude] Bellingham, [Morgan] Rogers and loads more.

If we can get those players playing with freedom and a smile on their faces throughout the tournament it’s up to Harry how many goals he scores this tournament. I honestly believe that.

I certainly expected him to score against Croatia. The thrill of an early goal in the tournament will only boost his confidence further and that’s a great thing for England.

If you look at the goals Croatia scored, both could have been avoided. What England did was played into their hands and allowed them to get their technical players on the ball and do what they wanted to do.

In terms of energy England were all over Croatia, so if you get ten or fifteen yards further forward, you don’t even get into those situations. Having the flexibility of the energy off the bench is going to be pivotal going forward.

Good reaction, the first half was a bit complicated for us. It was a bit nervy. The decisions we took, we chose to go safe and go backwards. We struggled to find any rhythm and didn’t have the confidence to go through the gaps.

I saw a statistic of 33 per cent of ground duels won in the first half and 73% in the second, so even off the ball was not good enough, not committed enough. I loved the reaction of the players in the second half. It was emotional; there were a lot of emotions involved. It took us a while to get going.

Even if we lose, it will not change my perception of the last 17 days but let’s do it our way. We were too focused on protecting the result. We were a back seven and we didn’t defend. If the result doesn’t go our way, we want to play our way. I tried to encourage them to go for it.

Let’s see. I hope they’re OK. I would never take Declan out normally. We were not very clean when we won balls. We learn a lot from these moments. We are exhausted but I loved exhausted players in the dressing room. It’s pressure, it’s the first game of the tournament.

The second half especially, we showed what we’re about and the team we want to be. I think the first half, we were still a bit nervous and cagey. With the ball, we rushed a bit but in the second half, we created a nice rhythm and you saw the best of us.

It wasn’t one of those where it was a big drama or standing up and shouting; it was what the team needed. We have a mature group with great leaders in there; everyone knew the level we had to get to. The start of the second half gave us a great platform.

I don’t remember all 23 [passes]. I remember Elliot’s was brilliant, Noni was trying to take it off my toe but no chance. The work that goes into creating that sort of play is obviously one that takes us weeks to get right. Credit to the manager and his staff, they’ve put us in the right place to take those chances.

My responsibility to the team and my country is to give everything I have when I cross the line and wear that badge on my front. I want to give everything I can, it’s been a long season for me; I’ve missed more camps than I’d like.

The second half was more than flashes, in my opinion. The constant level of intensity without the ball was top level; the substitutions that came on were unbelievable. The pressing from the front, we hit the marker there.