England vs Croatia Prediction

Match Details

Prediction & Analysis

England against Croatia carries serious history — Croatia beat England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final and then England exacted a degree of revenge with a Euro 2020 group stage win before Croatia were eliminated. This 2026 group meeting arrives at a moment when the generational shift is very much in England's favour.

England are our predicted semi-finalists, expected to beat Brazil in the quarter-finals before losing to Argentina. They have one of the tournament's strongest squads — pace in attacking areas, quality from set-pieces and a defensive structure that has solidified under their manager. This is a side that knows how to win tournament matches.

Croatia's core has aged considerably since their 2018 World Cup final run. Luka Modrić, the heartbeat of everything they do, is in the final chapter of his international career. Croatia are predicted to finish second in Group L and qualify — enough to show they can still compete — but England's physical edge and quality in the final third should be decisive.

• England key threat: width, pace and set-piece quality — England are one of the best set-piece sides in world football.
• Croatia to watch: Modrić orchestrating through the middle — he still makes everything tick when he has space.
• Deciding factor: England's superior depth — they can press at high intensity for 90 minutes and Croatia cannot match that physically.

Predicted Group L Final Standings