England

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England captain Harry Kane speaking to BBC Sport: "That's the level we know we can reach. First half was a bit more even, I still thought we had some moments obviously scoring two goals. The goals conceded were a little bit disapppointing by, especially the second one how deep we were, that is not us or the team we want to be.

"The boss said at half time 'let's go', up the tempo, go man for man and completely take the game to them, and that is exactly what happened. You saw us at our best level, both with and without the ball, we could have scored three or four goals in that 20 minute spell in the second half. We did what we needed to do and finished the game off nicely at the end."

On his penalty: "When I watched the clips I saw he [Livakovic] likes to move early, so I knew that there was a chance that if I did the stutter that he would come off the line. I was 80% sure that it was off the line, I wasn't 100% sure, then obvsiously when it got retaken I changed the technique a little bit. This is all why I do the research, and in the end it worked out nicely for me."

Harry Kane reckons he stuttered on the first penalty on purpose having watched clips of Dominik Livakovic come off his line.

Hmmmm. Is that true? Who knows. I'm happy to buy it.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker to BBC Sport

The substitutions in the second half worked really, really well and more than played their part in England winning the game. It was really positive what Tuchel did putting Spence into the right back position and moving James into midfield, then Saka coming on and adding pace, Rashford coming on and getting his goal.

Croatia had to come on to England to try to get the goal back but then that left space in forward positions and England had the pace and quality to finish them off.

England

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England forward Noni Madueke, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was a good game. Bits we did well, bits we can improve on. Overall, from a team perspective, it was a good game. Individual perspective, it was a good game and a good start.

"It is a great feeling to play in an England shirt, especially at a World Cup. I don't think about whether I start or finish the game. When I come on the pitch I want to have a good impact and help my team.

"We go again in six days."

England

England head coach Thomas Tuchel, speaking to ITV: "Good reaction, the first half was a bit complicated for us. It was a bit nervy. The decisions we took, we chose to go safe and go backwards. We struggled to find any rhythm and didn't have the confidence to go through the gaps.

"I saw a statistic of 33% of ground duels won in the first half and 73% in the second, so even off the ball was not good enough, not committed enough. I loved the reaction of the players in the second half. It was emotional; there were a lot of emotions involved. It took us a while to get going.

On what he said at half-time: "Even if we lose, it will not change my perception of the last 17 days but let's do it our way. We were too focused on protecting the result. We were a back seven and we didn't defend. If the result doesn't go our way, we want to play our way. I tried to encourage them to go for it.

On Jude Bellingham: "A very good player, he deserved to start and that's what he needs to do to fight for his place.

On Declan Rice being withdrawn: "Let's see. I hope they're OK. I would never take Declan out normally. We were not very clean when we won balls. We learn a lot from these moments. We are exhausted but I loved exhausted players in the dressing room. It's pressure, it's the first game of the tournament."

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live at Dallas Stadium

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Six players coming into this World Cup squad have non-English clubs.

It is a record for England to go into a World Cup for players to have six non-English clubs. The players are playing at a top level.

The amount of trophies the players have won. 22 of the 26 players have won trophies in the last two seasons.

Tournament experience and competitive experience, all that amounts to putting a side together. These players are now used to these big tournaments.

When I was younger, you got fast tracked into a squad far too quickly. If you were good in the under-21s, they would sit you on the senior team bench rather than playing in an under-21s tournament.

Micah Richards
BBC Sport pundit

The debate going into the game was Rogers versus Bellingham. Bellingham is a big game player. In the moment where you needed him, he comes up trumps, and that is the difference.

England

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England midfielder Jude Bellingham, speaking to ITV: "The second half especially, we showed what we're about and the team we want to be. I think the first half, we were still a bit nervous and cagey. With the ball, we rushed a bit but in the second half, we created a nice rhythm and you saw the best of us.

On Thomas Tuchel at half-time: "It wasn't one of those where it was a big drama or standing up and shouting; it was what the team needed. We have a mature group with great leaders in there; everyone knew the level we had to get to. The start of the second half gave us a great platform.

On the build-up to his goal: "I don't remember all 23. I remember Elliot's was brilliant, Noni was trying to take it off my toe but no chance. The work that goes into creating that sort of play is obviously one that takes us weeks to get right. Credit to the manager and his staff, they've put us in the right place to take those chances.

"My responsibility to the team and my country is to give everything I have when I cross the line and wear that badge on my front. I want to give everything I can, it's been a long season for me; I've missed more camps than I'd like.

On the second half: "The second half was more than flashes, in my opinion. The constant level of intensity without the ball was top level; the substitutions that came on were unbelievable. The pressing from the front, we hit the marker there."

Peter Schmeichel
Former Denmark goalkeeper on Fox Sports

Solid performance. There were some negatives but winning the first game 4-2, let's talk about the good things. I know how difficult it is - all the expectations. You're sitting there six days while everyone else played. That's something they've had to manage.

Then all the big guys scoring. Harry Kane is sitting in his room thinking 'I have to score tomorrow' and he did.

Micah Richards
BBC Sport pundit

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If you look at the goals Croatia scored, both could have been avoided. What England did was played into their hands and allowed them to get their technical players on the ball and do what they wanted to do.

In terms of energy England were all over Croatia, so if you get ten or fifteen yards further forward, you don't even get into those situations. Having the flexibility of the energy off the bench is going to be pivotal going forward.

Wayne Rooney
BBC Sport pundit

On Croatia's first goal:

We could do some much better with the first goal. I think there were a few elements. Jude [Bellingham] is a bit flat-footed and the defender comes in and wins the ball. I think John Stones can stay on his feet. There's no real danger and [Jordan] Pickford is in a good position but he doesn't stay on his feet. He gambles and when he dives in and gambles and it means [Nico] O'Reilly has to go across. It's a nice set and good cut back and nice finish.

Could Jordan Pickford do a bit better? I don't know. He gets a full hand on it. I know it's quick. It's a good goal from a Croatia point of view but there's things England can do better to prevent it.

I'm always critical of goalkeepers. I think if Jordan is getting a hand on it like he does then he'll be disappointed.

It wasn't a perfect performance from England. Thomas Tuchel will want to tidy some things up...

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live at Dallas Stadium

Yes, defensively you could pick a couple of holes, but the way they applied themselves going forward, the link-up play with Harry Kane, so many positives. I think Thomas Tuchel will be delighted, but I don't think he will say that openly in the media.

Conor Coady
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

We have played against a top side, and we have gone and done a job on them. We're all thinking they can get better, which is a real exciting prospect. They can get better again and they're a fantastic team. Some of the goals tonight were outstanding.

I think we could be in for a wild ride...

Four goals to kick things off in Group L.

Micah Richards
BBC Sport pundit

On Kane getting off the mark tonight and keeping in the mix for the Golden Boot:

The main man has come up trumps. That is what you want as a nation coming into the tournament. We need our best players performing, Kane, Bellingham, the players off the bench, that is a massive confidence boost for everyone.

When you mention Mbappe, Messi, Haaland as well, that is an individual striker's thing where they have their own little competition.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport in Philadelphia

'It's Coming Home, It's Coming Home' sing the England fans at full-time in the Lion Sports Bar in Philadelphia.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Former Sweden forward on Fox Sports

Harry Kane scored two goals but what I liked the most is he blocked a shot in his own area in the last few minutes.

When you see a top player defend like he does, the sacrifice - he wants to win. He’s prepared to do things a star wouldn’t do normally.

England

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England captain Harry Kane, speaking to ITV: "I thought it was a game of two halves. First half, we were OK. Really disappointed to concede in the way we did, I thought we dropped off. Credit to the manager, he gave us a speech at half-time and said if we lose, we lose in our way and I think we saw that in the way we came out in the second half. We went full gas and they couldn't live with it. Credit to everyone for the first game of the tournament.

"Without the ball, we went a bit more aggressive. It was difficult. They have players like Luka Modric dropping in and you're trying to figure out who to pick up. The intensity we want at, it's our biggest strength and we'll have to use that more.

"The way we controlled the game once we went ahead, we never really looked like we were in danger and then scored on the counter-attack. We had a spell where we could have scored three or four.

On Jude Bellingham: "Great goal, great run, great finish. You can see the desire from Jude in training. The competition is high-level. Whoever plays is ready and you saw Jude is itching to get out. Fantastic goal."