Kane draws level with Lineker as England beat Croatia 4-2 in Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP): Harry Kane netted a brace to pull level with England's all-time World Cup scoring record, Jude Bellingham found the net two minutes after the restart, and the Three Lions held off Croatia 4-2 on Thursday.

Martin Baturina and Petar Musa replied to each of Kane's first-half strikes in a repeat of the 2018 semi-final that Croatia had won. Musa struck on the last action before the interval whistle.

The deadlock did not survive long once the second half got under way. Bellingham collected a long ball, outpaced his marker to the end, and curled a finish beyond Dominik Livakovic that clipped the far upright on its way in. Marcus Rashford extended the cushion in the 85th minute.

Kane, who claimed the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with six goals, now has 10 at the tournament, matching Gary Lineker's tally from the 1986 and 1990 editions.

The 32-year-old forward opened his account from the spot on a retaken penalty. Livakovic had initially stopped Kane's effort, but video review showed the goalkeeper with both feet off his line as the kick was taken, and the attempt was ordered again. Kane aimed for the right-hand side on the second go; Livakovic dived the opposite way, to his right.

The spot kick was awarded after Luka Modric — the 40-year-old midfielder who has now extended his own Croatian record by featuring in a fifth World Cup — caught Noni Madueke on the thigh.

Kane drew alongside Lineker when the Bayern Munich striker powered a header past Livakovic from a Declan Rice corner. Kane now has 81 goals for his country.

Bellingham was presented with another clear opening almost straight after registering his seventh international goal. Livakovic denied that effort and roughly half a dozen more in quick succession during a frantic spell of English pressure.

Musa turns out for Major League Soccer side FC Dallas, whose home ground sits roughly 40 miles from AT&T Stadium.

The retractable-roof arena that houses the NFL's Dallas Cowboys offered World Cup supporters relief from the sticky Texas heat — on this occasion for white-clad England followers and Croatian fans largely dressed in their nation's familiar red-and-white chequered colours, rather than the blue kits the players wore.

Musa followed up a header from Ivan Perisic and drove a first-time shot beyond Jordan Pickford, who had also been beaten in the 36th minute by Baturina. That effort into the left-hand corner deflected off Pickford's glove.

England's next assignment is against Ghana in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in Group L on Tuesday — the same day Croatia face Panama in Toronto.