In Thomas Tuchel’s debut as England coach at the World Cup, England led Croatia 1-0 after Harry Kane converted his second penalty in the 12th minute, a start that arrived after a late squad change when Tino Livramento was ruled out with a calf injury and Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah was called up as his replacement.
England had the ball more and the momentum to show for it: at the hydration break the hosts controlled possession 59% to 41%, and Croatia had not attempted a shot on goal in the period described — clear metrics that underscored English control even as the scoreboard offered only a single-goal cushion.
The forced alteration to England’s back line came in the hours before kick-off. Livramento was hurt during training on Sunday; a scan and medical assessment on Monday confirmed he could play no further part in the tournament, and Chalobah was added to the squad before the match began.
That sequence matters because it reshapes immediate selection choices and Tuchel’s options at fullback without the young defender. England’s early dominance looked tidy — possession, set-piece control, a penalty converted by Kane — yet the game also exposed a paradox: England were the clear favorites and were dictating play, but Croatia had been contained so thoroughly they still registered no attempts on goal.
The rest of the day's Group L coverage brought its own headline: Portugal and DR Congo finished 1-1 after Yoane Wissa struck in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time to give Congo its first-ever World Cup goal and its first-ever World Cup point. The draw gave Group L an unexpected early jolt and underlined how quickly tournament narratives can shift.
For England the immediate questions are practical. Tuchel’s team showed control, but a reliance on an early penalty and a one-goal lead will not silence doubts about finishing or about how effectively Chalobah can fill the gap left by Livramento. How those answers slot into the England World Cup schedule — and whether Tuchel can patch the defensive hole while maintaining attacking tempo — will shape expectations for the group stage.
The clearest unresolved issue after the day’s play is not tactics on the touchline: it is how far Tuchel can take this England side without Livramento available. That single uncertainty now carries the most weight for a team that started his tenure with a slim lead and plenty of possession to build on.
