England open up their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia. The last time the two sides met in the World Cup was the 2018 semi-final which saw Croatia go through to their first World Cup Final. England have been genuine international contenders since then finishing runners-up in the Euros and exiting in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup. They are third favourites to lift the trophy behind France and Spain. Croatia, while still a decent side, are not the team they were in 2018 and 2022 and are not expected to match their runners-up spot in Russia or their third place in Qatar. However, it still represents a tricky first match for Thomas Tuchel’s side, and I have found four great bets to make a 5/1 bet builder.
TL;DR – My England vs Croatia Betting Tips
| Market | Odds at Betfred | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Match Result: England | 8/11 | 1 |
| Under 3.5 Goals | 1/4 | 1.5 |
| Over 9.5 Corners | 6/5 | 1 |
| Nico O’Reilly 1+ Shots | 2/9 | 1 |
| Bet Builder | 5.27/1 | 1 |
Odds Correct at 08:58 BST on 15th June 2026. Odds subject to change.
No Expiry Date
Match Result: England
I often stay away from betting on the result in the opening match of a tournament, especially where England are concerned. Teams are often just getting up to speed, and things will sometimes not go as expected. However, while Croatia should not be taken lightly, I feel that England will have too much for them. Since the Gareth Southgate era, England usually win when they are expected to in competitive fixtures. Thomas Tuchel looks to be continuing this, with the former Chelsea boss overseeing a flawless qualifying campaign. Kickform give England a 55% chance of winning, and I am predicting an England win to start my bet builder.
Under 3.5 Goals
I don’t anticipate a high-scoring encounter. England didn’t concede a single goal in their eight qualifying matches, while Croatia only shipped four goals in their eight games. With Luka Modric still a key man for Croatia, I expect them to enjoy a decent share of possession. I also expect them to stay compact when England are on the ball. I was tempted to go for under 2.5 goals but decided to err on the side of caution. Kickform give a 78% chance of under 3.5 goals, and I am happy to make this my second bet.
Over 9.5 Corners
England have a number of exciting attacking options in wide areas. They have a number of players who are not afraid to test the goalkeeper from outside the box. The result is a lot of corners. Looking at their last three friendlies, they won 11 corners against Costa Rica, eight against New Zealand and 11 against Japan.
In Croatia’s last three matches, they won eight flag kicks and conceded four against Slovenia, won three and conceded four against Belgium and won four and conceded six against Colombia. These stats point to the corner count reaching double figures on Wednesday, and the World Cup betting odds for over 9.5 corners at Betfred make this an attractive wager.
Nico O’Reilly 1+ Shots
Nico O’Reilly is expected to be Tuchel’s choice to start at left-back. And the Manchester City defender consistently gets into positions where he can get a shot away. Last season, O’Reilly averaged 1.39 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League. In the friendly against Costa Rica, he registered two attempts, and I expect him to have at least one shot against Croatia.
My 5/1 Bet Builder is Live
I have put my four wagers into a tasty 5/1 bet builder with Betfred, one of the best World Cup betting sites. Good luck if you decide to use these tips, either as singles or as a 4-leg bet builder. Remember to gamble responsibly.
England vs Croatia Odds
Check out the latest odds for England vs Croatia from the UK’s top bookies.
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