England's opening match World Cup record - from eight-goal thriller to USA nightmare

England's opening World Cup match against Croatia is a significant fixture, especially considering Croatia's past triumph over them in the semi-finals eight years ago. Historically, England's opening game has been a rollercoaster, from a thrilling eight-goal affair to a challenging defeat by the USA. This time around, England's performance will be closely watched, as their past experiences suggest they face a tough but familiar opponent in Croatia. It's a chance for redemption and a test of how far they've come since their semi-final heartbreak.