Neville warns Konsa-Stones partnership could cost England after Croatia expose defensive frailty

Harry Kane scored twice but England’s defence twice surrendered the lead, leaving the Three Lions level at 2-2 with Croatia at half-time in their 2026 World Cup Group L opener.

Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Luka Modric fouled during a corner scramble — the initial kick was saved but a retake was ordered following two Croatian offences, and the Bayern Munich striker did not miss a second time. He added a thunderous header to make it 2-1, mirroring the brace he scored against Tunisia in England’s 2018 World Cup opener.

Between those two goals, Croatia levelled through a glorious Martin Baturina strike that Jordan Pickford could only get a hand to. And just before the break, Petar Musa’s volley drew Croatia level again at 2-2, sending England into the interval with their defensive vulnerabilities fully exposed.

Gary Neville did not hold back in his assessment. “The one thing I didn’t want from this game was for [England’s] defence to be vulnerable,” he said. “They’ve gone in at half-time in the first game at the World Cup and conceded two goals, and that’s concerning. The vulnerability… is [Ezri] Konsa and [John] Stones a partnership that can win us a World Cup? We’re going to have to protect that back four in the second half.”

Ian Wright echoed the unease, describing England’s playing style as chaotic and “nervous”, though he acknowledged that supporters would accept the anxiety if results ultimately went their way.

The first two meaningful chances of the match both came from set pieces — Josip Sutalo volleyed over from a Croatian corner before Modric’s foul handed England their penalty opportunity — a sign that the game was always likely to be unsettled and physical.

England head into the second half needing to rediscover the lead and, more pressingly, find a way to keep it.