England power past Croatia as Ronaldo’s Portugal stumble

Summary of England power past Croatia as Ronaldo’s Portugal stumble

by The Athletic

54m•June 18, 2026
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Overview of The Athletic’s Totally Football Show episode

This World Cup recap centers on England’s statement-making 4-2 win over Croatia, a frustrating 1-1 draw for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal against DR Congo, and a look back at the most impressive teams, goals, and themes from the opening week. The hosts also debate tournament expansion, squad depth, tactical trends, and whether some of the early big-name struggles are signs of deeper problems or just first-round noise.

England 4-2 Croatia: a major early marker

England’s win over Croatia was the clear headline performance of the day and, in the hosts’ view, one of the best matches of the tournament so far.

Why England impressed

  • They looked sharper, more fluid, and more aggressive in the second half.
  • Thomas Tuchel’s halftime message seemed pivotal, with England coming out “full gas.”
  • The bench had a real impact:
    • Jed Spence added pace and chaos down the flank.
    • Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Morgan Rogers contributed after coming on.
  • Harry Kane looked much more dynamic than in previous tournaments, dropping deep and linking play like a quarterback.

Key moments

  • England scored first from a penalty after Luka Modrić’s handball/late challenge sequence.
  • Croatia equalized through a well-worked finish from Baturina.
  • Kane restored England’s lead with a header from a set piece.
  • Jude Bellingham finished a rapid second-half move to make it 3-1.
  • Marcus Rashford added the fourth to seal it.

Tactical takeaways

  • Tuchel’s use of wide runners and rotated attackers created space for Kane.
  • The panel liked how England’s squad depth allowed them to change the game after halftime.
  • A caveat: the match was played in an air-conditioned stadium, and the hosts wondered whether England can sustain that intensity in hotter venues later in the tournament.

Ronaldo’s Portugal stumble against DR Congo

Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo was framed less as a bad result in isolation and more as a worrying sign of imbalance within a very talented squad.

What went wrong for Portugal

  • Portugal went ahead early through João Neves’ header.
  • Congo equalized through a coordinated team move finished by Wissa.
  • Ronaldo struggled to influence the match and got increasingly frustrated.
  • A key moment late in the game summed up the issue:
    • Ronaldo went for a near-post finish on a cutback instead of leaving it for Bruno Fernandes, who was behind him and better placed.

Main criticism

  • The panel argued Ronaldo is now inhibiting Portugal’s attackers rather than elevating them.
  • The problem is not simply his lack of goals, but the way his role disrupts the team’s natural attacking flow.
  • There was open discussion about whether Roberto Martínez should be willing to substitute him more often.

DR Congo’s positives

  • The draw was a deserved reward for a disciplined and spirited performance.
  • The equalizer was celebrated as a historic moment, with DR Congo earning their first World Cup point since returning to the tournament.
  • Their ability to compete despite limited possession was praised.

Ghana-Panama: the day’s worst game, decided late

The panel agreed Ghana vs. Panama was the least convincing match of the day, even if it finished with a dramatic late winner.

Match summary

  • Panama controlled large portions of the game and looked the tidier side.
  • Ghana were flat for much of the match and lacked variety in attack.
  • The game improved only after Ghana introduced fresher legs from the Championship:
    • Brandon Thomas-Asante
    • Abdul Fatawu

Decisive moment

  • Ghana’s winner came late after Thomas-Asante reached the byline and crossed for a tap-in.
  • Despite the late drama, the consensus was that the overall quality was poor.

Colombia-Uzbekistan: strong Colombia, brave Uzbekistan

Megan Ferringer joined to cover the day’s final match, which had developed into an entertaining second half after Colombia led at halftime.

What stood out

  • Colombia were dominant for long stretches and probably should have scored more.
  • Uzbekistan responded with their first-ever World Cup goal after a lively move in the box.
  • Luis Díaz restored Colombia’s lead with a strong finish.
  • Colombia’s third goal was especially admired:
    • a determined recovery from the byline
    • a superb cross
    • a headed finish

Player of the match discussion

  • Daniel Muñoz’s goal for Colombia was highlighted as one of the best strikes of the tournament so far.
  • The panel praised the technical quality and timing of the goal.

Best of the opening week: teams and goals

With the first round of matches complete, the hosts picked out their early favorites.

Best team: Argentina, England, and France all got mentions

  • Tom: Argentina, for their settled structure and the way Messi seems to be thriving in a familiar setup.
  • Laurie: England, for variety, squad depth, and the quality of the Croatia performance.
  • Duncan: France, emphasizing their talent and the impact of moving Michael Olise into a central role.

Best goal

  • Tom: Mbappé’s first goal against Senegal, mainly for the brilliant pass from Michael Olise.
  • Laurie: Mohammad Mehbi’s header for Iran, which came from a lovely flowing move and had extra emotional weight from being at the match.
  • Duncan: Ismail Saibari’s goal for Morocco against Brazil, praising the audacity of the chip finish.

Broader tournament themes

The conversation broadened into larger World Cup talking points.

Tournament expansion

  • The hosts were split, but generally leaned toward the expanded format being a good thing.
  • Arguments in favor:
    • more nations and fan bases represented
    • better atmosphere
    • more opportunities for countries outside Europe/South America
  • Arguments against:
    • too many matches
    • harder to track the groups
    • some concerns about FIFA’s motivations

Early trends

  • Dinked passes, headers, and set-piece goals have been a recurring pattern.
  • Several teams have shown that underdogs can compete if they stay organized and take their chances.
  • The hosts noted that being “good enough to get out of the group” often matters more than dominant early results.

Off-field concerns

  • The panel criticized:
    • ticket pricing
    • visa issues
    • treatment of the Iran team
    • water breaks, which one host found especially irritating
  • At the same time, they acknowledged that the football itself has largely rescued the tournament from its structural flaws.

Looking ahead

The show closed by previewing the next round of games, including:

  • Czech Republic vs. South Africa
  • Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Canada vs. Qatar
  • Mexico vs. South Korea

There was also an eye on how Portugal’s group could shape up, with the possibility of a knockout path that might bring them into England’s orbit later in the tournament.