Croatia defender Duje Caleta-Car has described Harry Kane as a “master of the game” as his side prepare to face England in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The two nations meet on Wednesday in a highly anticipated Group L encounter, renewing a rivalry that has produced some memorable moments in recent major tournaments.
England will be looking to begin their campaign strongly under head coach Thomas Tuchel, while Croatia are aiming to gain revenge for previous defeats to the Three Lions on the international stage.
The fixture also brings back memories of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, when Croatia came from behind to defeat England and advance to the final, dealing a painful blow to Gareth Southgate’s side.
England responded three years later at the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, defeating Croatia in the group stage as they embarked on a run that eventually took them to the final.
Ahead of the latest meeting between the sides, Caleta-Car singled out England captain Harry Kane for special praise, recalling the impact the striker made even when he was not among the goals.
“Kane impressed me in our match against England at the European Championship, even though he didn’t score,” defender Caleta-Car said.
The Croatian centre-back highlighted Kane’s intelligence and understanding of the game as qualities that make him one of the most difficult forwards to face.
“His movement and positioning – you can clearly see he’s a master of the game and knows exactly what he’s doing.”
Kane enters the tournament as England’s captain and one of the most experienced players in Tuchel’s squad. Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading strikers, he remains central to England’s hopes of making a deep run at the World Cup.
For Croatia, containing Kane will be one of the key challenges if they are to start their campaign with a positive result.
His ability to drop into midfield, create opportunities for teammates and finish chances inside the penalty area has made him a constant threat for both club and country.
