Jude Bellingham's No. 10 Debut Is Here, and Croatia's 40-Year-Old Legend Is Ready to Spoil the Party

The World Cup is officially kicking off, Emerald City, and it's starting with a bang! Thomas Tuchel just dropped the England starting XI for their opener against Croatia, and the biggest news? Our guy Jude Bellingham is starting, rocking that iconic No. 10 shirt. This isn't just any game, folks, this is England's first step on the biggest stage, and Bellingham is right in the thick of it at Dallas Stadium in Arlington. The stakes are sky-high, you know it, when that first whistle blows at 21:00 BST!

England's Fresh Faces and Familiar Core

Tuchel isn't messing around with this lineup, putting Bellingham right into the creative heart as the No. 10. He snagged that spot after battling it out with Morgan Rogers, showing the faith the coach has in him. Up front, Harry Kane is leading the charge, because he's Harry Kane. We've got Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke bringing the pace on the wings, with Gordon getting the nod over Marcus Rashford, which is a statement. In the midfield engine room, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are forming that crucial pairing. And defensively, it's a solid, settled look. Jordan Pickford is in goal, with Reece James and Nico O’Reilly on the flanks. John Stones and Ezri Konsa are holding it down in central defense. There was one pre-tournament curveball, though: Tino Livramento was sidelined with a calf injury, bringing in Trevoh Chalobah, thou

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gh he won't link up with the squad until after this game. And yeah, Trent Alexander-Arnold was apparently overlooked again. It's a squad ready to fight, but the pressure is ON.

Croatia's Enduring Legend and Emerging Talent

But let's not pretend this is an easy walk in the park. Croatia isn't just showing up, they're bringing a living legend in Luka Modric. He's 40 years old, captaining his country in his *fifth* World Cup, and he's closing in on his 199th international appearance! That's unreal longevity, a testament to his class. Coach Zlatko Dalic is expertly blending that incredible experience with youth. You've got Josko Gvardiol, Luka Vuskovic, and Josip Sutalo anchoring the defense, while veterans Ivan Perisic and Mario Pasalic are adding their quality. Petar Musa is leading their attack. Oh, and get this: this isn't just a random game. This is a rematch of the 2018 semi-final, a game Croatia won on their way to the final. They've got that history in their minds, too. So, what does this all mean for England? It's their first shot at putting points on the board in Group L, and against a team that’s handed them heartbreak before. Bellingham's performance in that No. 10 role is going to be huge. This isn't just about winning one game, it's about setting the tone for their entire tournament. Get ready, 12s, because this World Cup opener is going to be electric. Let's see if England can rewrite history tonight, or if Modric and his Croatian squad still have some magic left.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.