England opened the World Cup with a 4-2 win over strong, stubborn Croatia, a result that suggested the team may have a genuine chance to go far. The match was played at the start of the tournament, and the article says England, unlike in many previous major events, has a solid case for optimism this time.
Harry Kane was the standout, especially in the first half, scoring twice and becoming England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer. His performance drew heavy praise from Gary Neville, who said there were no words left to describe what the England captain is doing.
Neville said what impressed him most was Kane’s calmness in the biggest moments. “He is not rash, not nervous, he has pure decision-making when it is needed most,” Neville said. He added that Kane is not merely “a striker in good form,” but a player who makes World Cup goals look routine.
Neville concluded that England are not always perfect, but Kane keeps carrying them forward. In his view, performances like this do more than win matches, they build the belief that “something special” can really happen.
