England bring joy and excitement to the World Cup
It was a remarkable first match for England at the 2026 World Cup
Can they keep this brave and attacking style up throughout the tournament?
England supporters spilled out of the magnificent Dallas Stadium into the warm night air buoyed by a sense of exhilaration after Thomas Tuchel's side delivered a powerful statement of intent.
Harry Kane had earlier urged his England team-mates to be "free in the mind" and embrace the pressure that comes with a World Cup, and they took him at his word, for better and worse.
England's opening 4-2 win over Croatia combined exhilarating attacking football with moments of alarming defensive vulnerability, but the smiles on the faces of supporters leaving this vast arena painted their own picture.
This was, whisper it, fun.
England have often been difficult to watch in recent years, even when reaching the Euro 2024 final and the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar four years ago. Those campaigns brought progress, but rarely entertainment, as England ultimately fell short.
Sir Gareth Southgate's impressive record showed that the end often justified the means, but it was seldom achieved in a style that had supporters on the edge of their seats.
Not here. There was nothing dull about this performance, although not always in a manner Tuchel would have appreciated.
This was a match that demanded your full attention, whether it was Tuchel's barely concealed fury during the first half or England's relentless attacking pressure after the interval. It culminated in the head coach embracing compatriot Jurgen Klopp after spotting him on the touchline, where he was working as a television pundit.
It was football lived on the edge and, judging by the reaction at the final whistle and long afterwards, England's supporters loved every minute.
Adrian travelled over from Greater Manchester to watch the match, he told us: "England were fantastic going forward. Kane is essential. Ultimately, that was a great start. Onwards!”
George B added: “Harry Kane scored two goals, but what impressed me most was how he blocked a shot in his own area during the final minutes. When you see a top player defend like that, it shows real sacrifice and a true desire to win. He’s willing to do things most big global stars wouldn’t.”
