The Three Lions were a little shaky in the first half and were twice pegged back by Croatia after two goals from Harry Kane. At half-time, assistant coach Anthony Barry ripped into a complicated and confusing performance, and Tuchel also had stern words for his players at the break.
It brought an immediate reaction and a third goal thanks to Jude Bellingham, who was too powerful down the right as he fired England ahead. Tuchel's side were also dominant in the opening spell of the second half, with Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic preventing a huge scoreline.
England then flexed their strength and depth, with substitutes Bukayo Saka combining with Marcus Rashford to provide breathing room with a fourth, handing them a two-goal cushion to cap an impressive display and victory.
With his double, Kane levelled Gary Lineker's World Cup record of 10 goals. That milestone seemed no more than a footnote by the final whistle, as if it had come in a different and more disparate match, overshadowed by the scale of England's second-half surge.
Credit to the manager, he gave us a speech at half-time and said if we lose, we lose in our way and I think we saw that in the way we came out in the second half. We went full gas and they couldn't live with it.
England captain Harry Kane credited Tuchel's half-time team talk for inspiring the turnaround. Kane levelled Gary Lineker's World Cup record and pointed to the manager's address as the catalyst for how England played after the interval.
Tuchel's World Cup Promise
Jude Bellingham looked like he can fulfil all that talent, but Thomas Tuchel has already fulfilled one promise. The England manager had promised that an occasion like this World Cup 2026 match would bring out the best in us, but it may have done even more than that.
It may well have been the country's best spell of tournament football in decades, and perhaps the most convincing victory in some time. The final score ended 4-2, but it could genuinely have been 7-2 from the 10 minutes after half-time alone. Croatia barely knew where to turn, let alone where to look.
Barry on England's First Half
England assistant coach Anthony Barry was critical of his side's first-half display against Croatia in a punchy post-match interview. Barry had already torn into the opening 45 minutes at half-time, calling the performance complicated and confusing before Tuchel addressed the squad as well.
Portugal's Opening Day
On a poor day for Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, Roberto Martinez's side faced questions after a goalless display against DR Congo. Ronaldo's blank against DR Congo is the latest warning for Martinez, though there is little sign that the Portugal manager will take the decision to remove the 41-year-old for the sake of the team.
