England confront old World Cup adversaries Croatia in their opening game of next year’s tournament after a draw that gave them a potentially hazardous route forward if they progress.
Croatia, who beat England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, are 10th in the Fifa rankings and dangerous tournament operators, but not the force they were. Head coach Thomas Tuchel will be optimistic his side will get out of a section that also includes Ghana and Panama.
England will be one of the tournament favourites as they attempt to end the long wait for a major men’s trophy stretching back to the 1966 World Cup, but if they win their group they will have to do it the hard way to make history.
If they progress to the last 16 having won their group, they would potentially face co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City’s famous Aztec Stadium if they had also topped their group and won a last-32 match. Mexico are ranked 15th in the world so will be a threat. It would also be a tough assignment fuelled by raw emotion and colour of an entire nation behind their team in a hostile atmosphere.
If England reach the quarter-final, there is then the tantalising – not to mention extremely difficult – prospect of facing Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil.
One factor working in England’s favour is that their first game against Croatia is on 17 June, giving them extra time to prepare and factor in pre-World Cup friendlies as the tournament starts with Mexico playing South Africa on 11 June.
But with the World Cup draw complete, Tuchel can now start making his plans to fulfil the sole mission of his appointment on an 18-month contract, namely to win the World Cup.