‘Coming home’: England hype at fever pitch despite controversy
Optimism and hope aren’t usually words to associate with England’s history at the World Cup - but their opening win over Croatia has given rise to more lofty expectations for the team.
And if their first performance is anything to go by - English fans may walk away from the tournament with a foreign feeling - satisfaction.
Harry Kane grabbed a double. Getty Images
Harry Kane scored twice to equal the English record for World Cup goals, while Jude Bellingham scored another, silencing the criticism over his form for the national team and Marcus Rashford padded the lead in the 85th minute.
Kane’s first goal came on his second chance on a penalty, after Dominik Livakovic’s save on the first try was nullified by a video review that showed both his feet off the goal line as Kane was striking the ball.
“When I watched the clips I saw he [Livakovic] likes to move early, so I knew that there was a chance that if I did the stutter that he would come off the line,” Kane said after the game.
“I was 80 per cent sure that it was off the line, I wasn’t 100 per cent sure, then obviously when it got retaken I changed the technique a little bit.
“This is all why I do the research, and in the end it worked out nicely for me.”
However, some pundits, weren’t impressed with Kane’s stutter-step.
“(It) should be banned,” former Ghana star Kevin-Prince Boateng said on SBS.
Overall, England greats were impressed by the team’s play, although questions were raised about the side’s defence after Croatia’s Martin Baturina and Petar Musa answered each of Kane’s first-half goals. Musa’s goal came on the final play before the whistle ending the first half.
“They can do a little better with the two goals [they conceded] but so positive and getting to the ball, creating chances, making it hard for Croatia to get out,” former England striker Wayne Rooney told the BBC.
“That was as exciting a first game of a tournament I’ve seen for a long time.”
Jude Bellingham celebrates. Getty Images
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel: “Solid performance. There were some negatives but winning the first game 4-2, let’s talk about the good things.
“I know how difficult it is - all the expectations. You’re sitting there six days while everyone else played. That’s something they’ve had to manage.
“Then all the big guys scoring. Harry Kane is sitting in his room thinking ‘I have to score tomorrow’ and he did.”
Swedish great Zlatan Ibrahamovic also praised Kane and pointed to a moment late in the match that showed how committed the striker is.
“Harry Kane scored two goals but what I liked the most is he blocked a shot in his own area in the last few minutes,” he said on Fox Sports in the US.
“When you see a top player defend like he does, the sacrifice - he wants to win. He’s prepared to do things a star wouldn’t do normally.”
Legendary English striker Alan Shearer concurred: “It’s a brilliant block. Harry Kane has thrown everything at that. He chucks himself at it to stop a certain goal.”
Kane scores his side's second goal. AP Photo/Julio Cortez
While fans were telling anyone within earshot the World Cup is “coming home”, there was some concern over the ease in which Croatia found the back of the net.
“The concern is that Croatia had two attacks against us in the first half and they scored two goals,” Gary Neville told the BBC.
“England looked like they had the game by the scruff of the neck. The one thing I did not want is for the defence to look vulnerable.”
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson added: “They were picked open far too easily with a simple ball over the top.”
Despite defence being of some concern, the reaction to Thomas Tuchel’s management of the game was praised.
“When we were sat there watching the game when I saw the three lads coming on, [Marcus] Rashford, [Bukayo] Saka and [Morgan] Rogers I said I absolutely love these subs,” Shearer said.
“I loved how positive Thomas Tuchel was being because if you sit back and wait for Croatia to come on then it gets nervy. It’s brave and shows he’s trying to win the game.”
Wrexham defender Conor Coady also told the British broadcaster: “In previous tournaments when Sir Gareth Southgate was in charge, he was a wonderful manager.
“Everyone used to say he might not have made changes early enough. Now we’re seeing changes upon changes.”
England plays Ghana in their second match of the tournament on Wednesday at 6am AEST.
