England defeats Croatia in World Cup opener; Portugal draws with DR Congo
England secured a 4-2 victory over Croatia to begin their tournament campaign at the Dallas Stadium. Meanwhile, Portugal was held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Amalgamated from France 24 (opens in new tab), Daily Mail (opens in new tab)
England began their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia in Arlington, Texas. According to France 24, the match remained level at halftime before Thomas Tuchel’s tactical adjustments led to an offensive surge in the second half.
The Daily Mail noted that Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham were central to the English effort during the opening game. However, the publication also reported that the team must improve its defensive organization quickly to progress through the tournament.
In a separate result, Portugal played out a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo. France 24 reported that Cristiano Ronaldo failed to register a shot on target during the match, prompting questions regarding his role and the amount of time he should be allocated in upcoming fixtures.