England won 4-2 and justified the gap with more attacking output
England beat Croatia 4-2 at AT&T Stadium and, beyond the even possession, established a clear edge in volume and quality of chances. They generated 2.8 expected goals to 0.5 for Croatia and ended up holding a scoreline that better reflected their attacking weight.
Tactical read
England took the match 4-2 and the result was backed up by the biggest numbers from the game. Although possession was fairly even —52% for England and 48% for Croatia—, the difference lay in what each team produced when they had the ball: England created chances worth 2.8 goals, while Croatia managed just 0.5.
That also shows up in the shots. England finished with 21 shots and 11 on target, compared with 8 shots and 5 on target for Croatia. It was not a game of overwhelming territorial control, but it was one of greater English ability to turn their attacks into meaningful chances. The final score reflects that reading: 4 goals for England against 2 for Croatia, in a match that featured a Croatian response, though without enough volume to compete on equal terms in attacking production.
The setup also helps explain the flow. England lined up in 4-2-3-1 and Croatia in 3-4-2-1. With those shapes, the English side found more continuity to get into the box and reach goal frequently, while Croatia produced better individual than collective returns in the attacking third, something reflected in the fact that their highest rating ended up being Martin Baturina's, even in a loss by two goals.
Turning point
The match changed pace with the burst of goals around halftime and the start of the second half.
- Harry Kane opened the scoring in the 12' and struck again in the 42' to give England the lead.
- Martin Baturina pulled one back in the 36' for Croatia.
- P. Musa equalized at the end of the first half, in the 45+5'.
- Jude Bellingham restored England's lead in the 47'.
- Marcus Rashford put the game away in the 85'.
That stretch between the 42', 45+5' and 47' was the decisive break: England absorbed the equalizer and answered immediately, a sequence that ended up tilting the match for good. From there, Croatia could no longer hold the score level, even though they stayed in the contest until Rashford sealed the 4-2.
The standouts
The ratings also help sort out the individual performances.
- Harry Kane was the highest-rated player at 8.3 and backed it up with 2 goals, while also being the most decisive attacking name for England.
- Martin Baturina posted 7.9 for Croatia and stood out even on an unhappy night for his team.
- Noni Madueke completed the podium with 7.7 for England.
The clearest takeaway is that the best individual performance in the match came from England, and it came with end product too. Kane was the most visible face of that difference: not only because of his 2 goals, but because his rating put him above the rest.
Closing
The final 4-2 summed up the contrast between the two teams well: a sharper England, with more shot volume and better chance creation, against a Croatia side that had moments of response but not enough generation to sustain the head-to-head battle. Possession was even, but the attacking numbers marked the real gap in the match.
