England Face No. 11 Croatia With 0-1-2 Record Against Top-20 Teams
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 17
England Face No. 11 Croatia With 0-1-2 Record Against Top-20 Teams
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 17
Summary
Croatia, ranked 11th by FIFA, are the latest test of England’s form as Thomas Tuchel’s side enters the World Cup 2026 match under pressure to beat elite opposition.
England have played 14 times under Tuchel and won 11, outscoring opponents 29-0 in those victories, but those results came outside the world’s top 20.
The only three top-20 meetings in his tenure produced a 0-1-2 record — a draw with Uruguay and home defeats to Senegal and Japan.
England are ranked No. 4, but the Croatia match is being framed as an early measure of whether Tuchel’s strong overall record can translate into results against stronger teams this summer.