Kane Ties World Cup Record in England's 4-2 Croatia Win
Harry Kane scored twice to tie Gary Lineker's England record of 10 World Cup goals, and the Three Lions held on for a 4-2 victory over Croatia in their Group L opener at Dallas Stadium, according to the Associated Press. Jude Bellingham put England ahead for good two minutes into the second half, and Marcus Rashford added a late fourth after Croatia had twice pegged Kane's brace back in a frantic first half. On Polymarket, England's World Cup winner price now sits at roughly 12.8% — up about 2.4 percentage points over the past day as traders reassess a side that avenged its 2018 semifinal loss to the same opponent.
The night carried more than a scoreline. Kane's penalty in the 12th minute — awarded on retake after Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković left his line — and his header off a Declan Rice corner in the 42nd minute moved him level with Lineker's mark from the 1986 and 1990 tournaments. Martin Baturina and Petar Musa answered for Croatia before the break, including Musa's stoppage-time equalizer that left the teams level at 2-2 at halftime. Thomas Tuchel's halftime adjustments appeared to unlock England: Bellingham finished a sweeping move in the 47th minute, and Rashford sealed the result in the 85th after Bukayo Saka's pass set him free inside the box. England next face Ghana on June 23 in Foxborough, while Croatia meet Panama in Toronto the same day.
What it means for the odds
England entered the tournament among the leading contenders behind Spain and France on the outright winner market. A four-goal opening win against a 2018 finalist — with Kane looking sharp and Bellingham influential — gives bettors a concrete reason to upgrade the Three Lions rather than wait on friendlies or press-conference hints. At 12.8%, England now trails only France (18.4%) and Spain (13.8%) among the top tier on Polymarket's World Cup winner board, a meaningful jump from pre-match levels. Croatia, meanwhile, slipped to about 0.7%, reflecting how costly dropped points can be in a 48-team format where group survival is only the first hurdle. One match does not crown a champion, and Ghana's injury-time winner over Panama hours earlier showed Group L will not be a procession. Still, markets tend to reward teams that score four and show second-half control against elite opposition — exactly what England delivered in Arlington. Prediction-market prices reflect trader sentiment, not certainties; group outcomes and knockout paths can shift quickly once the second round of fixtures begins.
Odds via Polymarket and move constantly — figures reflect the time of writing (June 18, 2026). Not financial advice. Prediction-market trading is restricted in some regions; see our responsible-use page.