World Cup: England vs Croatia 17/06/2026

Match Odds Betting

This is an intriguing matchup with plenty of history, but it comes at a time when Croatia is no longer the powerhouse it once was.

England, as usual, qualified comfortably for the finals, and its impressive form continued in the recent friendly matches. Thomas Tuchel has made several bold decisions regarding his squad selection, showing he is not afraid to take risks and promising a different version of England. I expect to see an aggressive and high-intensity approach, with no shortage of attacking talent.

Croatia has produced remarkable achievements in recent tournaments, including eliminating England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final. However, the team has changed dramatically since then. The new generation cannot be compared to the previous one, from which only the legendary Modric remains, now 40 years old and no longer capable of maintaining a high tempo throughout a match. Perisic, now 37, has also lost much of the explosiveness that once made him so dangerous. Defensively, an area where Croatia has traditionally been reliable, the team showed several weaknesses in its recent friendlies.

This is an excellent opportunity for England to begin the tournament with a statement victory, one that would provide a significant psychological boost for the rest of the group stage. At the available odds, the home win represents solid betting value.