England vs Croatia: Betting Tips, Odds & Bet Builder Picks

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England begin their World Cup campaign on Wednesday when they face Croatia at Dallas Stadium. Thomas Tuchel’s side are 8/11 favourites for their Group L opener and possess an array of attacking quality, with Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham expected to play leading roles as the Three Lions target another deep tournament run.

Croatia have regularly proved difficult opponents for England, most notably eliminating them in the 2018 World Cup semi-final. England gained a measure of revenge with a 1-0 victory in their opening match at Euro 2020, but Croatia’s experienced and technically gifted midfield should ensure another competitive meeting in Dallas.

Check out our best bets for the match, featuring Nico O’Reilly to have two or more shots at 29/10, the Tipster Wizard’s Bet Builder at [odds] and Declan Rice to score or assist at 11/4.

England vs Croatia Best Bet

Recommended Bet: Nico O’Reilly to have 2+ shots
Best Odds: 29/10 (Coral and Ladbrokes)
Advised Stake: 1pt

Nico O’Reilly to register two or more shots is an appealing selection for England’s World Cup opener, with his attacking instincts and aerial presence giving him several routes to reaching the line.

O’Reilly has made four starts for England and recorded at least two attempts in two of them. He has also cleared this line on 17 occasions for Manchester City during the 2025/26 season, showing that his shooting threat is not restricted to a handful of standout performances.

Although expected to start at left-back, the 21-year-old should regularly advance beyond England’s midfield and join attacks. His powerful runs allow him to arrive in the box from deep, while his height and physicality make him an additional target at corners and attacking free-kicks.

The expected match pattern also supports the bet. England are 8/11 favourites and just 4/7 to win at least five corners, suggesting bookmakers anticipate sustained pressure and plenty of attacking situations for Thomas Tuchel’s side. If Croatia defend compactly, O’Reilly should receive opportunities to shoot following overlapping runs, second balls and set-piece deliveries.

Odds of 29/10 imply a probability of just over 25%, which looks generous given that O’Reilly has landed the line in half of his England starts and on 17 occasions for City this season. At the available price, two or more shots is worth a 1pt stake, provided he is confirmed in the starting line-up.

England vs Croatia Bet Builder Tip

Tipster Wizard's Bet Builder Tip for England vs Croatia is:

England to Win
Under 3.5 Goals
Jude Bellingham 2+ Shots

England enter their World Cup opener in excellent form under Thomas Tuchel, having won all eight qualifying matches without conceding a goal. Their defensive organisation, midfield control and attacking quality should give them the edge against a Croatia side expected to adopt a cautious approach. With Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane capable of deciding tight matches, England look well placed to secure all three points.

That cautious Croatian setup should also contribute to a relatively low-scoring contest, particularly with neither team likely to take unnecessary risks in their opening group match. England have been exceptionally difficult to break down, while Croatia may prioritise staying compact and limiting space, making Under 3.5 Goals an appealing selection.

Bellingham is expected to operate in an advanced midfield role, allowing him to make late runs into the box and shoot from around the edge of the area. He has registered at least one shot in each of his last 12 England appearances and averaged 3.32 shots per 90 minutes during that period. With England likely to dominate possession and Croatia potentially defending deep, Bellingham should have enough opportunities to record two or more shots.

The bet builder pays a best price of 3/1 with bet365 when publishing.

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England vs Croatia Player Prop Bet

Recommended Bet: Declan Rice to score or assist
Best Odds: 11/4 (Paddy Power)
Advised Stake: 1pt

Declan Rice to score or assist is an appealing player prop for England’s World Cup opener, with the midfielder carrying a far greater attacking threat for his country than earlier in his international career. Rice has registered nine goal contributions across his last 14 England appearances and enters the tournament after opening the scoring in the 3-0 warm-up victory over Costa Rica.

His shooting numbers provide further encouragement. Rice has recorded five shots on target across his previous five competitive England appearances, demonstrating his increased willingness to make forward runs and arrive around the penalty area. His delivery from corners and free-kicks also gives him a clear route to an assist, particularly with England possessing several strong aerial targets.

If Elliot Anderson starts alongside him as expected, Rice should have more freedom to advance rather than operating as England’s deepest midfielder. Anderson’s defensive coverage and ball-winning ability can allow Rice to support attacks, collect second balls around the box and join moves later, as he did when sweeping home England’s opener against Costa Rica.

Croatia’s experienced midfield should make this a competitive contest, but England are expected to control territory and generate the greater number of attacking situations. Rice’s combination of set-piece responsibility, recent shooting output and licence to move forward gives him multiple ways to contribute directly to a goal.

Odds of 11/4 imply a probability of around 27%, which looks attractive given his nine goal involvements across the 14-match sample. With both open-play and set-piece routes to a return, Rice to score or assist is worth a 1pt stake.