England midfielder Nico O'Reilly is calling for a bold approach when England face Croatia in their World Cup Group L opener in Dallas on Wednesday, urging Thomas Tuchel's side to attack from the start and use recent progress to make an early statement against familiar opposition.
O'Reilly pointed to the 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in England's final warm-up match as the standard for the tournament, stressing how performance levels and squad chemistry must now transfer into competitive action against Croatia, with the group believing that strong preparation should translate into dominance on the pitch.
England and Croatia meet at a World Cup for only the second time, with the previous clash coming in the 2018 semi-final, when Croatia won 2-1 after
extra-time, and that painful defeat now provides a clear reference point as England aim to reshape this fixture's narrative on the global stage.
Since lifting the World Cup in 1966, England have advanced beyond the quarter-finals just twice, reaching the last four in 1990 and again in 2018, and that limited record underlines why this generation is under pressure to deliver deeper progress while facing teams like Croatia, who have often excelled at major tournaments.
| Year | England World Cup best stage |
|---|---|
| 1966 | Winners |
| 1990 | Semi-finals |
| 2018 | Semi-finals |
Pre-tournament data reflects high expectations, with Opta's supercomputer rating England as the third favourites for the title and giving Tuchel's team a 10% chance of winning the World Cup, while qualifying brought eight wins from eight, with no goals conceded, making England the only UEFA side to keep a perfect defensive record.
Down to work in KC pic.twitter.com/kbzDP1WH8w England (@England) June 13, 2026
O'Reilly explained how England have been adjusting to conditions in the United States and sharpening fitness through training and friendlies. "We've been acclimatising to the heat, a lot of training and then with the two games where everyone got some minutes," said O'Reilly, as quoted by ESPN. "I think we just need to go out there all guns blazing and show them what we're made of. In a way [it's been like a preseason] but it's been intense. Obviously, we need to get ready for the tournament, and it's been good. "
The midfielder highlighted squad unity as another key factor. "The togetherness we have got, it feels like a really tight group," O'Reilly said. "Everyone is together and it feels like we are bonding well, clicking well on the pitch. We had a lot of chances against Costa Rica and now it is time to put that work in and dominate games. "
Tuchel's balanced, often cautious style has drawn criticism despite impressive defensive numbers in qualifying, and O'Reilly's comments reflect a desire within the camp to pair structure with greater attacking intent, as England look to deliver a performance against Croatia in Dallas that matches their statistics and long-held ambition for a deeper World Cup run.
