Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland in Boston

Baseball games are apparently like buses. Go through years without one, then two turn up in the same week.

On a night off I popped back along to Fenway Park after the success of the Scotland celebration night on Sunday for the Red Sox taking on the Toronto Bluejays.

No Scotland night this time, but a platoon of Scotland fans scattered across the place as the Sox got a scudding.

Image source, Scott mullen

World Cup fever is starting to really ramp up across England as people start clocking off work and thinking about their plans for this evening's match.

Just now we're putting a pin in build-up to the Three Lions' opener against Croatia and heading over to Boston.

Let's find out how BBC Sport Scotland reporter Scott Mullen has been getting on since Steve Clarke's side kicked off their tournament with a 1-0 win over Haiti.

Image source, Stagecoach Midlands

A bus company has temporarily named some services after Ivan Toney as England begin their World Cup campaign.

Stagecoach Midlands has renamed its 9, 9A and 9B routes through Northampton as the "Toney Town" service after the former Cobblers and England striker.

Northampton-born Toney, 30, made his professional debut at Northampton Town in 2012 and now plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli.

"We are incredibly proud that Ivan Toney is flying the flag for Northampton on the biggest stage of all, so, we thought we would mark the occasion by renaming our service for the duration of the tournament," said Mark Whitelocks, managing director of Stagecoach Midlands.

Croatia

Image source, Getty Images

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has been discussing the importance of AC midfielder Luka Modric ahead of tonight's match.

The 40-year-old is set to win his 199th cap for Croatia this evening.

"He means a lot, both as a captain of our team and as a person," Dalic said of the one-time Ballon d'Or winner.

"He is my right hand on the pitch.

"It means a lot to the team that we have a couple of older players alongside Luka who are leading the younger players and they can do very good things.

"They are very lucky to have him, Luka, as a role model in how to fight for the national team jersey and we're lucky to still have him with us."

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel on England's chances of putting a second star on the shirt:

"We will try. We will compete for it.

"No one expects us to guarantee that because we cannot guarantee it. We don't know what the outcome is. We need luck on the way if we want to go all the way.

"The responsibility is on the effort and courage that we show. It starts in the group stage and that's where the focus is."

Image source, Getty Images

Don't forget you can predict all games at the World Cup across the BBC Sport website and app.

Our brand new game gives you the chance to guess the result of each game and build your streak as you return each day.

Players also have the chance to enter a prize draw to win an official World Cup football signed by members of the BBC World Cup team.

Get involved over here

Image source, Getty Images

Is it coming home? Who knows. But the perfect first step would be topping Group L.

Ranked number four in the world, a team full of young talent led by Ballon d'Or contender Harry Kane and a Champions League winning coach - this might be one of England's best opportunities.

But you'd expect 11th in the world Croatia to put up the biggest challenge to that top spot. Their ageing squad has all the experience to progress far this year following successive World Cup runners-up and third-place finishes.

And of course, we can't forget the heartbreak they caused England fans in 2018. Led by Luka Modric, Croatia knocked Gareth Southgate's side out of the semi-finals to stop the Three Lions reaching their first World Cup final since 1966. Although England have remained undefeated against them since.

While Panama make their return after eight years and Antoine Semenyo's Ghana, led by new and experienced coach Carlos Queiroz, make for interesting ties in Group L.

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel says his side England will try to play their own style, regardless of the conditions at the World Cup.

"We have a young group, we have a courageous group, we have a brave group of players, so let's go for it", said Tuchel.

"No one guarantees that we win so we want to at least try it, our style."

England shouldn't have to adapt too much in the first game at the Dallas stadium, due to there being a retractable roof and air conditioning.

"I'm just not ready to already adapt into a different style of football because of circumstances that we cannot influence", added the England boss.

"I think we would just give up our strengths. In the end, we need to have an answer for every scenario.

"So will we be a lot in ball possession, or will we attack a lot the last third of the opponent? Will they push us back? Do we need to defend deep?

"We need to have answers to everything."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

England

World ranking - 4

World Cup appearances - 17

World Cup best performance - champions (1966)

Croatia

World ranking - 11

World Cup appearances - 7

World Cup best performance - runners-up (2018)

Ghana

World ranking - 73

World Cup appearances - 5

World Cup best performance - quarter-finals

Panama

World ranking - 34

World Cup appearances - 2

World Cup best performance - group stage

Image source, Getty Images

England captain Harry Kane might be the most in-form striker going into the tournament after scoring 54 goals for Bayern Munich this season and so, like every tournament he's played in, is one to watch.

Besides the 32-year-old, World Cup debutant Elliot Anderson is another one to keep an eye on. The Nottingham Forest midfielder had the most touches (3,300), won the most duels (297) & won the most possession (306) of any top-flight player during a season in which he had to deal with the death of his mother.

For Croatia, it's no other than legend Luka Modric. Now 40, the midfielder continues to drive standards and direct play for club and country. The man in the mask – which he's expected to wear to protect a fractured cheekbone – won the 2018 Ballon d'Or and is Croatia's greatest player of all time.

Ghana's leading man is Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo. His dream season culminated in him scoring one of the great FA Cup final goals in May. The two-footed winger became only the second man after Andy Cole to score 10 or more goals in all competitions for two different teams within the same Premier League season.

Adalberto Carrasquilla is Panama's midfield orchestrator. His poise, athleticism and high technical level were recognised when he became the first Panamanian to win Concacaf's Men's Player of the Year award in 2024. Known as 'Coco', the 27-year-old was injured playing for his Mexican club in May and could miss the start of the tournament.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Sutton
Former England forward

Image source, BBC Sport

I worry about England's defence a bit, but they are definitely in the mix to win this World Cup.

Their midfield, with Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice, is particularly strong. They won't have too many weaknesses and, when we get to the knockout stage, they are capable of beating anyone in a one-off game.

They should start with a win, too. Croatia are creaking now - they are an ageing team, miles off where they were when they reached the final in 2018 - and they could struggle in the heat.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

AI's prediction: 2-1

England

England captain Harry Kane, talking to BBC Sport about his record-breaking season with Bayern Munich is giving him an extra edge for the World Cup:

"Throughout a career, you need a lot of things to go your way and fall into place at the right time and I feel like it has for this tournament", said Kane.

"Coming off the best season that I've ever had, first and foremost, from a fact point of view.

"Obviously, scoring a lot more goals than what I have in any other previous season, which is pleasing. But I think also just physically and mentally, the way the season ended for me was in a great way.

"To win the league and then the cup final and to score the three goals there, I think, just gave me more momentum."

Image source, Getty Images

We've had Paul the Octopus who correctly predicted 12 of 14 games during Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, now it's time for Jane the Chimpanzee to step forward.

After some deliberation, four-month-old chimp Jane, who lives at Wingham Wildlife Park near Canterbury, has already revealed England will beat Croatia in their Group L opener.

Alan Shearer picks his England starting line-up for their opening World Cup game against Croatia.

Pickford; James, Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane.

This is the eleven that Micah Richards, Joe Hart and Steph Houghton agreed should start against Croatia tomorrow.

"Jude Bellingham, I would start him ahead of Morgan Rogers in a number 10 position because he is a big game player," Richards said.

"I think he is a genuine superstar. I think there is two genuine stars in him and Harry Kane."

"By no way, shape or form do I think that this squad will play every game," said Hart.

"The squad has such an important role to play. I think it is a balanced team. You could change seven of those because the squad is so good."

Image source, BBC Sport