Harry Kane converted a retaken penalty after Dominik Livakovic's initial save was overturned for encroachment, giving England a 1-0 lead over Croatia in their World Cup opener. The strike — Kane's 80th for his country — also extended his World Cup penalty and multi-tournament scoring milestones, reinforcing his status as the Three Lions' decisive finisher.
Kane nets from retaken spot to put England ahead against Croatia
Harry Kane gave England the lead after a dramatic penalty sequence early in the World Cup opener with Croatia. Noni Madueke was brought down in the box by Luka Modric, referee awarded a spot kick, and Kane's first effort was superbly saved by Dominik Livakovic.
A VAR check found Livakovic off his line, the penalty was retaken and Kane made no mistake on the follow-up.
How the penalty unfolded
The incident began when Modric collided with Madueke inside the penalty area as the winger tried to clear the ball. Kane stepped up and stuttered in his run-up; Livakovic dove low to his right and kept out the initial effort. After a VAR review, officials ruled that the goalkeeper had encroached, prompting a retake. On the second attempt Kane struck with conviction into the bottom corner.
Kane’s composure, records and legacy
Scoring the retaken penalty marked Kane’s 80th international goal for England and added to his growing World Cup résumé. He has now scored five penalties at World Cups and became just the second England player to score at three separate World Cups — a reminder of his longevity and clutch instincts. The sequence also illustrated Kane’s mental resilience: after a miss in 2022, he calmly corrected course and buried the second attempt.
Livakovic and Croatia’s perspective
Dominik Livakovic produced a fine initial save that looked set to shift momentum in Croatia’s favour, but the encroachment call neutralised that moment. Croatia still showed the quality and experience in midfield — led by Luka Modric — but the team must recover quickly from conceding early against a clinical striker in Kane.
Why this matters for England
An early goal against a heavyweight opponent buys England tactical flexibility and psychological advantage. For Gareth Southgate’s side, converting pressure moments into tangible reward is crucial in tournament football. Kane’s finish removes doubts about penalty composure and places the onus back on Croatia to chase the game and open spaces for England to exploit.
What comes next
The result sets the tone for group dynamics and gives England momentum heading into their next fixtures. Croatia will need to regroup and avoid letting the early setback dictate their approach. For England, maintaining discipline and converting further chances will be essential if they are to progress deep into the tournament.
Final read
The match’s early drama distilled two truths: Kane remains England’s premier big-game finisher, and marginal VAR interventions can swing match narratives instantly.
Ronaldo held to draw as Portugal stumble — DR Congo score historic first World Cup goal
In tight tournament football, those margins often decide who advances.
Mail Online
