Kane breaks the record… and Croatia secure and survive with Modrić’s experience

27 June 2026, 9:28 PM

0 81 4 minutes read

كأس العالم 2026: انكلترا بصدارة المجموعة الثانية عشرة وكرواتيا بالوصافة - World Cup 2026: England top Group L, Croatia runners-up — BY-AI-PN

World Cup 2026 | England seal top spot in Group L after downing Panama.. Croatia beat Ghana to join the “Three Lions” in the Round of 32 in a group decided by details until the final minutes

England secured top spot in Group L at the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Panama, while Croatia snatched the second qualification ticket with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ghana, on a night that once again proved that big‑tournament experience remains the sharpest weapon when the calculations get complicated.

While Thomas Tuchel’s men finished the group stage unbeaten, Zlatko Dalić’s side needed the character of champions and their captain Luka Modrić to win a direct showdown against a Ghana team that had already secured qualification and played without pressure, only to end up surrendering second place to Modrić and his teammates.

Kane writes history… England get the job done without a show

England entered the match knowing that victory would guarantee them top spot, but Panama — who had lost 6-1 to the “Three Lions” at the 2018 World Cup — put up strong resistance throughout the first half, closing down spaces against Tuchel’s side.

England dominated possession and created chances, but needed a set‑piece to break the deadlock. In the 62nd minute, Jude Bellingham rose amid the marking to head Bukayo Saka’s corner into the net.

The English needed just five more minutes to seal the match, with Bellingham turning provider for the second goal, allowing Harry Kane to apply his trademark finish with a precise header.

That goal was anything but ordinary — it carried historic weight, taking Kane’s World Cup tally to 11 goals, making him England’s outright all‑time leading scorer in the tournament, surpassing the legendary Gary Lineker.

With this victory, England finished the group stage on top, heading into the knockout rounds with confidence, as Tuchel continues to build a side that seems to be saving its best for the tougher tests ahead.

ملخص مباراة بنما وإنجلترا | دور المجموعات – كأس العالم FIFA 2026™#كأس_العالم2026 | #مونديال2026 | #كأس_العالم #FIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup | #beINWC26 pic.twitter.com/tX92bzbspW
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 27, 2026

Croatia know the road to survival.. Modrić’s experience decides a guaranteed‑qualification battle

In the other match, Croatia did not play with the mindset of a team that only needed a draw to stay among the best third‑placed sides; they played like a team accustomed to performing under pressure.

Croatia are one of the international sides most used to playing under pressure.

Zlatko Dalić’s men imposed themselves from the start, and their superiority turned into a stunning goal when Petar Sučić unleashed a long‑range rocket that found the top corner, giving them a deserved lead.

But Ghana, who had already secured qualification, came back in the second half and equalised through Derek Lucasen, reigniting the contest and sending the calculations back to square one.

That is when Croatia’s character — forged over years of World Cup experience — came to the fore. A team that knows exactly what it wants.

At the moment they needed their leader, Luka Modrić delivered a perfect corner kick, which Nikola Vlašić met with a header to restore the lead just seven minutes from the end, giving Croatia a victory that summarised the experience of an entire generation that knows how to win when the tournament is on the line.

Modrić leads the way… and Croatia prove they don’t die easily

Once again, Modrić showed that his influence cannot be measured by goals alone, but by his ability to control the tempo of the game in the most difficult moments.

While Ghana had speed and energy, Croatia had calmness and experience — the equation that made the difference in the end, securing runners‑up spot in the group and setting up a Round of 32 clash against the runner‑up from Group K.

ملخص مباراة كرواتيا وغانا | دور المجموعات – كأس العالم FIFA 2026™#كأس_العالم2026 | #مونديال2026 | #كأس_العالم #FIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup | #beINWC26 pic.twitter.com/k5t2UghNc2
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 27, 2026

Kane enters the record books… and Pickford keeps writing his own

England’s night was not just about a collective victory.

Alongside Harry Kane’s historic record, Jordan Pickford made his 15th World Cup appearance, moving him into second place on England’s all‑time list of most appearances in the tournament, behind only Peter Shilton.

Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, combined a goal with an assist, confirming once again that he has become the heartbeat of the new English project.

Two different paths… one shared ambition at the World Cup 2026

England finished the group stage exactly as they wanted: top of the table, solid, and with historic records for Kane and Pickford.

Croatia, for their part, did not need beautiful football as much as they needed big‑tournament character — and they found it once again in Modrić and his teammates.

Now the real tournament begins.

England enter the knockout stages among the favourites to compete for the title, while Croatia continue their journey in the way they always have… absorbing pressure first, then striking their opponents at the moment they least expect it.