Picture reveals a collage of Harry Kane #9 of England and Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal, June 17, 2026. — AFP
LOS ANGELES: England launched their World Cup bid with a rollercoaster 4-2 win in opposition to Croatia on Wednesday as Cristiano Ronaldo and Portgual stumbled to a draw in opposition to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In an enthralling Group L sport on the Texas residence of the Dallas Cowboys NFL staff, Harry Kane scored twice earlier than objectives from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford made the sport secure as England started their bid to finish a 60-year await a significant trophy.
Kane bought the ball rolling by slotting residence a penalty on the second try after the referee allowed him to re-take it when Croatian ‘keeper Dominik Livakovic was adjudged to have been off his line.
Croatia fought again and Martin Baturina introduced them stage after 36 minutes earlier than unmarked Kane equalled Gary Lineker’s England document of 10 World Cup objectives with a thumping header.
However the English defensive frailties had been on present when Petar Musa equalised for Croatia in first-half stoppage time.
Solely within the second half did England impose their will. Bellingham scored an aesthetic aim after outrunning his defender earlier than substitute Rashford took his time earlier than slotting the ball into the online on 85 minutes.
Kane revealed that England’s German coach Thomas Tuchel had addressed the gamers at half-time.
“The manager gave us a speech at half-time just to say, look, if we lose, we lose. We’re losing our way,” Kane mentioned.
“And I think you saw that, the way we come out in the second half. We went full gas. And they couldn’t live with it.”
Struggling Ronaldo
Earlier, Portuguese nice Ronaldo, 41, equalled the document of six World Cups set on Tuesday by his outdated nemesis Lionel Messi however his facet had been held to an upset 1-1 draw by DR Congo.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo seems dejected after the Fifa World Cup 2026 – Group Okay match in opposition to DR Congo, Houston Stadium, Houston, Texas, US, June 17, 2026. — Reuters
Ronaldo discovered the going robust in opposition to a resolute Congolese defence in Houston.
Joao Neves opened the scoring for the Portuguese within the first half however Yoane Wissa of English Premier League membership Newcastle equalised with a headed aim in first-half harm time to provide the Congolese their first-ever World Cup level.
The consequence as soon as once more renewed scrutiny of Portugal coach Roberto Martinez’s insistence on beginning the ageing Ronaldo. However Martinez defended the veteran’s choice regardless of an ineffective efficiency.
“It makes no sense to take off the best goal scorer in world football out in a game that you need goals,” Martinez mentioned.
Ronaldo left the sphere with out chatting with reporters however later posted on Instagram: “It’s not the start we wanted, but it’s a long road and it’s not finished.”
The DRC’s achievement was even larger on condition that their preparations have been disrupted by the Ebola outbreak of their nation.
“It is a tremendous source of pride to have earned DR Congo’s first-ever point at the Fifa World Cup, as well as its first goal,” their coach Sebastien Desabre mentioned.
“I am very proud of my players because they represented the Congo in a very positive way and the entire country deserves it.”
A number of Portugal gamers in the meantime wore wrist bands in tribute to late team-mate Diogo Jota, who was killed in a automotive crash final 12 months.
In different video games Wednesday, Ghana snatched a 1-0 victory over Panama with an injury-time winner in Toronto to hitch England on three factors in Group L.
An attritional battle appeared to be destined to complete in a goalless draw till Caleb Yirenkyi bundled within the profitable aim within the fifth minute of stoppage time for the Black Stars.
Ghana reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup however have been eradicated within the group stage at their two most up-to-date appearances within the match in 2022 and 2014.
The African facet will play England of their second Group L sport in Boston on June 23.
In Wednesday’s late sport, Colombia beat World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 on because of an impressed efficiency from Luis Diaz on the Estadio Azteca within the Group Okay sport.
The Colombians went forward when Daniel Munoz volleyed in Diaz’s very good move after 40 minutes however Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalised earlier than Diaz settled the competition within the sixty fifth minute and Jaminton Campaz scored a 3rd within the dying seconds.
