See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy LUKE POWER, SPORTS REPORTER and HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER Updated: 15:21 BST, 17 June 2026
England are finally ready to join the World Cup party - and get underway with their opening game against Croatia in Group L tonight.Will Bukayo Saka be fit - or will he be left off the oche? By Luke PowerHe is one of the nation's favourite sons - but how much of a role will he get to play in this World Cup?Bukayo Saka is nursing an injury, having picked up an Achilles issue in March. He was restricted to five starts for Arsenal after that and only came off the bench against Costa Rica. It's a conundrum for Tuchel. Saka is likely the first choice on the right flank, but if you play him, you risk aggravating his injury. Leave him out, and you miss out on his qualities.We believe Noni Madueke, who performed wel inthe warm-up win against Costa Rica, will start tonight, but it's touch-and-go. The party goes on By Luke PowerI hope the supporters out on the lash last night got some decent sleep. Are you out in the United States? How have you found the atmosphere? The most popular bets for England vs Croatia By Luke PowerThese are some of the most popular bets for tonight's game with Betfair. Correct score:England 2-1 Croatia (15/2)England 3-1 Croatia (13/1)England 2-0 Croatia (6/1)Anytime goalscorer:Harry Kane (6/5)Bukayo Saka (3/1)Marcus Rashford (11/4)The key battles which will decide England vs Croatia By Luke PowerWhich Tottenham star will be tasked with stopping Harry Kane?Why is Luka Modric still the perfect enemy for England AGED 40? The two battles on the flanks which will prove instrumental Read Nathan Salt's preview of tonight's fixture - and his assessment of the key battlegrounds at the Dallas Stadium. Watch as England fans take over DallasBy Luke PowerEngland's final training session By Luke PowerEngland had their last pre-matchday training session yesterday.It all boils down to this. Tuchel has been planning for this for 18 months and tonight, Croatia will put those plans to the test while millions of people, either in the stadium, pubs, or on armchairs, will scrutinise them and think they know beter. Do you think England will get off to a winning start? Pints galore By Luke PowerOther supporters have been doing their drinking outdoors.England only have an official allocation of 4,022 tickets - a tiny slice spread out throughout a 70,122-capacity stadium.But the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) told BBC Sport that between 12,000 and 15,000 England followers are anticipated to be present at each match. Let's see how much support we get in the stands. England fans on their jollies!By Luke PowerEngland fans have been having a racuous time overnight in Dallas, where it is 8.46am.Some merrymakers were kicked out of a pub called The Londoner by police.The pub shut before 10pm after sellling more than 5,000 beers - around £30,000 in sales. England's predicted line-upBy Luke PowerThere has been a lot of talk about 'leaks' on the England team news - this is who we think Thomas Tuchel is going to go with tonight.Starting XI: Pickford; James, Konsa, Stones, O'Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; KaneThis is based off the informations and observations our reporters have been privy to at England's World Cup camp at Swope Soccer Village. Of course, there are a few question marks - we'll dive into them throughout the course of the build-up. Welcome! By Luke PowerHello and welcome to Daily Mail Sport's live blog of England's World Cup opener against Croatia!About time, isn't it? We've had five days of everybody else playing, so it's only fair we got in on the action.How are your nerves? Key Updates
