England secure thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia in World Cup opener

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Kick off: Ghana vs Panama underway

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Here we go!!

Ghana gets us going.

Out come the players

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Ghana and Panama are out of the tunnel, ready for the national anthems.

Boston bars ill-equipped for Scotland's Tartan Army

H By Henry Hanson

— Reuters

Bars in Boston are gearing up for a second tidal wave of drinking by Scotland's Tartan Army of football fans who nearly drained some pubs of all their beer in the first weekend of their World Cup occupation of the city.

When Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 on Saturday in their first World Cup appearance since 1998, bar staff had to scramble for emergency supplies to satisfy the country's famously raucous and thirsty fans who have packed into Boston by the tens of thousands.

"I've been in this business for over 30 years, and I've never seen anything like this," Billy DeCain, general manager of the Sam Adams Tap Room in the city centre, said.

At one point last weekend, the bar had to call in a special truck delivery from a Sam Adams brewery to cope with the seemingly insatiable demand for beer from the Scots, and even then DeCain worried that they might have to resort to selling only cans.

"We just about made it through. If we didn't have those emergency deliveries it would have been a tall task," he said on Wednesday, as fans sipped on pints as they killed time before Friday's match against Morocco.

Like the Haiti game, the match will take place at the vast stadium home of the New England Patriots American football team in the suburban town of Foxborough.

Ghana Black Stars arriving in style

P By Pokuah Frimpong

Iran and Egypt uncomfortable to meet in 'Pride Match'

H By Henry Hanson

— with AP

Egypt and Iran are two of the most repressive places in the world for gays and lesbians. But by sheer coincidence they will square off in a World Cup “Pride Match” in Seattle coinciding with the city’s annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.

It has already gotten awkward, with both countries asking for the celebrations to be cancelled.

Iran, where same-sex relations are illegal and gay men have been executed on sodomy charges, had separately asked that its games be moved out of the United States because of the war in the Middle East, a request denied by FIFA.

Egypt has arrested and prosecuted gays and lesbians on the basis of vague indecency laws, and has cracked down on any outward expressions of Pride, especially the waving of rainbow flags. Those will be out in abundance during the June 26 match and the typically boisterous parades just outside the stadium.

Team news: Ghana vs Panama

P By Pokuah Frimpong

This is how Ghana and Panama line up ahead of the second game in Group L.

England vs Croatia FT stats

H By Henry Hanson

So, England get past Croatia in one of the most entertaining games of the tournament so far.

After a sluggish first half, the Three Lions really came to life in the second period, dominating much of the territory and looking for the most part composed against a valiant Croatia outfit.

Here's how the stats looked at fulltime:

Expected goals: ENG 2.80 - 0.71 CRO

Shots on goal: ENG 11 - 8 CRO

Possession: ENG 52% - 48% CRO

Big chances created: ENG 4 - 1 CRO

Big chances missed: ENG 5 - 1 CRO

Mexican military brings down drone near South Korea soccer training camp in Guadalajara

H By Henry Hanson

— with AP

Mexican military forces intercepted and brought down a drone that flew near the South Korean national team's training camp in the central city of Guadalajara, where the team is preparing for its opening World Cup match against Mexico, a federal official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Military forces used specialised equipment to detect an "unregistered drone" near the South Korean training camp, prompting them to "neutralise" it, a Mexican federal agent said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the incident publicly.

The operation was part of a security plan involving military and local police forces for the soccer tournament, which kicked off last week in Mexico City and is being held across Mexico, the United States and Canada through July 19.

The official did not say when the incident occurred or whether any arrests were made. He said only that several drones had been neutralised in recent days after attempting to enter security zones around stadiums in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey — the tournament's three host cities in Mexico — as well as team base camps and fan festivals.

Match report: Kane at the double as England start tournament with victory over Croatia

H By Henry Hanson

— with Reuters

England got its World Cup campaign off to a winning start as they beat Croatia 4-2 on Wednesday, local time, in Dallas, thanks to two goals from captain Harry Kane and one apiece from Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford.

Kane opened the scoring with a retaken penalty in the 12th minute before Croatia levelled 24 minutes later when Martin Baturina capitalised on errors by England’s midfield and unleashed a shot that Jordan Pickford got a hand to but could not stop.

Kane then equalled the England World Cup scoring record of 10 goals held by Gary Lineker when he was given the freedom of the penalty box to head home from a Declan Rice corner in the 42nd minute.

But Croatia made it 2-2 in the fifth minute of time added on at the end of the first half when Petar Musa was picked out by Ivan Perisic’s deft header, and he blasted the ball past Pickford.

Two minutes after the interval, Bellingham sprinted half the length of the pitch after being set free by Elliot Anderson and his low-angled shot went in off the post before a counter-attacking move finished by Rashford in the 85th minute made sure of the win, which leaves England well placed in Group L, which includes Ghana and Panama, who play later today.

FT: England 4 - 2 Croatia

H By Henry Hanson

A thoroughly entertaining game ends in a promising, if slightly nervy, win for England.

It's their first ever World Cup victory over Croatia.

That game was won in the stanza after half-time, when Jude Bellingham scored England's third and Croatian shot stopper Dominik Livakovic produced a string of remarkable saves.

Croatia never quite asserted itself in the game after that, with English substitutes Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford combining for a well-constructed fourth goal.

A positive start to the tournament for England and far from a disastrous beginning for Croatia, who will still be confident of progression from the group stage.

90+6' Kane shows his defensive acumen

H By Henry Hanson

Harry Kane is back defending a corner, and is getting in the way of a Josko Gvardiol effort.

What can't this guy do?

90+3' Things petering out in Dallas

H By Henry Hanson

That Marcus Rashford goal has really taken the bite out of these closing exchanges.

But 37-year-old Ivan Perisic, all credit to him, is still busting a lung out there.

He's helping earn a corner as time slips away.

90' We move into six minutes of stoppage time as Kane looks a little ginger

H By Henry Hanson

Oh no, Harry Kane is down.

He's holding the back of his ankle.

Thankfully for England, their captain is back to his feet sooner rather than later and looks okay.

You can almost hear the nation's collective sigh of relief.

And cue ... PARTY TIME

A By Amanda Shalala

That should just about do it for England, and the fans are releasing the shackles and getting into full-on celebratory mode.

I am excited/nervous to see what they're like outside the stadium, hahaha. I'm just praying no beer showers please ...

Marcus Rashford seals it for England!

H By Henry Hanson

Marcus Rashford conjures a polished, cute little finish and this game is surely England's now.

Croatia is pushing high in search of an opportunity, and Bukayo Saka, only freshly onto the pitch and full of running, picks up the ball on half way.

The Arsenal wide man gets slightly fortunate on his way through a couple Croatian challenges, accelerates, and finds Rashford all alone on his way into the penalty area.

Rashford takes his time, stutters, and side-foots the ball back across Dominik Livakovic and into the back of the net.

Packed stadium

A By Amanda Shalala

The crowd figure is announced and it's 70,389, just a few hundred short of the official capacity here for the tournament.

And it's been a brilliant atmosphere, a constant soundscape of passion.

82' Chance England!

H By Henry Hanson

The substitutes combine for a lovely move down the right!

It's Morgan Rogers who slips in a lovely, deft little through ball and Djed Spence, only just arrived, races onto it.

He forces another low save from the superb Dominik Livakovic.

80' Substitutions for both sides

H By Henry Hanson

It's Jude Bellingham who makes way for England, the attacking midfielder clapping the Dallas crowd on his way off.

He's been a little quiet since that goal early in the half, but the Real Madrid man certainly won't mind.

He's replaced by fullback Djed Spence. We may see a change of shape here for England.

And forward Andrej Kramaric is on in place of Mario Pasalic for Croatia.

77' Chance Croatia!

H By Henry Hanson

And from nowhere, Croatia has a second wind!

Marco Pasalic, who has been lively since entering the game, is breaking down the right and forcing a sharp save from Jordan Pickford, who is down and low to his right.