The Ghosts of Moscow Rise Again
ENGLAND VS CROATIA
For most nations, a World Cup semi-final appearance is a badge of honor. For England, the summer of 2018 remains an open wound, and Croatia is the salt.
Every England fan can still see the tape playing in their head: Kieran Trippier’s early free-kick, the chorus of "It's Coming Home" echoing from London to Leeds, and then the slow, agonizing collapse in Moscow as Mario Mandžukić stole their dreams in extra time. It was a night on which a generation was supposed to prove golden, and instead they learned a brutal lesson in game management from a team that simply refused to die.
Eight years later, the Three Lions will open their 2026 World Cup run by attempting an exorcism.
No longer a plucky group of youngsters, Thomas Tuchel’s England has morphed into a ruthless machine, crushing Serbia 5-0 and refusing to surrender a single goal during qualification. Talisman Harry Kane, fresh off a historic arms race against Haaland and Mbappé for Europe’s Golden Shoe, leads a squad overflowing with Champions League pedigree. The talent and focus have never been more aligned.
But England can’t conquer the world until they conquer their past, and this Croatian side has mastered the dark art of suffering. Dropped into a 2-0 hole just 17 minutes into their final qualifying match, the Vatreni systematically dismantled Montenegro the rest of the way, driving a stake through their heart with an 87th-minute strike and snatching a 3-2 victory. With Man City’s Joško Gvardiol pulling the strings from the back and Luka Modrić orchestrating the attack, Croatia’s confidence under pressure is well-earned..
Speaking of Modrić, standing across from him will be the man who inherited his legacy at Real Madrid and now seeks to don his crown as the best midfielder of an entire generation: Jude Bellingham. For two years they shared the pitch as teammates, but this will be their first meeting since Modrić’s departure. Whether or not The Maestro has one last song in him will play out on the pitch, but having these two share the field during his World Cup farewell tour is truly a gift from the soccer gods.
Put all of it together and you have more than just a high-level Group Stage match: it’s a referendum on England’s maturity. A farewell tour for a legend. And a grudge match eight years in the making.
Get your ticket, but maybe leave the "It's Coming Home" chants until after the final whistle.
