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England and FC Bayern striker Harry Kane beat Croatia with FCB defender Josip Stanišić in their first World Cup match. Colombia and Luis Díaz too got off to a successful start to the group phase. Read on for an overview of how the opening matches went.
Two-goal Kane leads England to victory
Kane equalled the record set by England’s all-time World Cup top scorer Gary Lineker with his World Cup goals number nine and ten. | © Getty Images
Two-goal Kane leads England to victory
Kane equalled the record set by England’s all-time World Cup top scorer Gary Lineker with his World Cup goals number nine and ten. | © Getty Images
Kane’s England beat Croatia and Stanišić 4-2 in Wednesday night’s FCB head-to-head in Group L. Kane, who like Stanišić played the full 90 minutes, shone with two goals, strong playmaking and solid defending in Dallas. The England captain was named Man of the Match.
Kane scored from the penalty spot (12’) and with a header (42’), but Croatia’s Martin Baturina (36’) and Petar Musa (45’+5) levelled the scores. Jude Bellingham (47’) and Marcus Rashford (85’) fired England to victory after the restart.
Harry Kane was named Man of the Match after bagging a brace. | © Getty Images
“We came out in the second half full gas and they couldn’t live with it, and that’s the level we have to set in every game,” Kane said after the final whistle.
England will be back in action on Tuesday at 22:00 CEST when they take on Ghana in Foxborough. Croatia face Panama in Toronto on Wednesday at 01:00 CEST.
Goal & assist: Luis Díaz shines as Colombia win
Luis Díaz and Colombia got off to a successful start to the World Cup. | © Getty Images
Goal & assist: Luis Díaz shines as Colombia win
Luis Díaz and Colombia got off to a successful start to the World Cup. | © Getty Images
Like Kane, Luis Díaz shone in his first group match with Colombia. The FCB forward scored one goal and set up another one in the 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan.
Díaz’ brilliant pass invited Daniel Munoz to hand Colombia the lead (40’), with Uzbekistan’s Abbosbek Fayzullaev levelling the scores (60’). Díaz restored the lead five minutes later and Jaminton Campaz put the game to bed in added time (90’+9).
Luis Díaz shone with a goal and an assist and was named Man of the Match after the game against Uzbekistan. | © Getty Images
“We’re happy, we absolutely wanted the three points – and we have them now. That was the start to the World Cup we’d been hoping for. All Colombians dream of moments like tonight’s. We want to celebrate more triumphs with them,” said Díaz. Colombia take on DR Congo in their second group match in Zapopan on Wednesday at 04:00 CEST.
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