According to Yonhap News on June 18, England took the lead early in the match. In the 9th minute, Declan Rice of Arsenal delivered a corner kick, which led to a foul when Noni Madueke attempted to control the ball near the penalty area. Luka Modric's foot struck Madueke, prompting the referee to award a penalty kick.
Harry Kane stepped up to take the penalty but hesitated before shooting, allowing Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic to make a save as the ball slowed down and veered to the right. However, after a video review (VAR), the referee determined that Livakovic had stepped off the goal line, leading to a retake of the penalty.
Kane converted the second penalty in the 12th minute, giving England a 1-0 lead. Croatia responded in the 36th minute when Martin Baturina scored, leveling the match at 1-1. Kane then scored again with a header in the 42nd minute, putting England ahead 2-1, but Croatia equalized in stoppage time, making it 2-2 at halftime.
The momentum shifted in the second half when Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid scored for England in the 47th minute. Substitute Marcus Rashford of Barcelona added a fourth goal in the 85th minute with a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area, sealing the victory for England.
With this performance, Kane became the second England player to score in three consecutive World Cups, following David Beckham, who achieved the feat in 1998, 2002, and 2006.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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