World Cup Day 12: England Opens Against Croatia in Dallas, Scotland Faces Heat Warnings, and Mexico vs. South Korea Fans Party Together

Since our last coverage of England's buildup, the match is no longer upcoming: England face Croatia today, Wednesday, June 17, in Dallas, in their Group L opener.

Bellingham Needs to Answer a Real Question

Jude Bellingham is in the starting lineup, according to BBC Sport's Phil McNulty reporting from Dallas. Jude Bellingham was not guaranteed a start as recently as a few weeks ago. Thomas Tuchel, who left Bellingham out of England's squad for October friendlies against Wales and a qualifier in Latvia even after the Real Madrid midfielder said he was fit, has made his position clear: past heroics don't buy you certainty.

Bellingham's overhead-kick equalizer against Slovakia at Euro 2024, at 94 minutes and 34 seconds, is the kind of moment that defines a player's reputation for years. That reputation carried him through the first two years of the Tuchel era. Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers has pushed hard for the No. 10 role, and the competition is legitimate. Tuchel's decision to start Bellingham is vindication for now, but it is conditional. A poor performance against Croatia today, with Rogers available on the bench, would revive that debate immediately.

The Tuchel-Bellingham relationship has not been smooth. Tuchel apologized after saying his own mother found Bellingham's on-field behavior "repulsive" following a friendly loss to Senegal last June. He described the word as used "unintentionally." Whatever the chemistry off the pitch, both men appear to have moved past it. Bellingham said publicly earlier this month, according to BBC Sport, that "we need to feel love playing for England."

Croatia Is Not a Formality

England fans who expect an easy opener because Croatia's core is aging should reread the history. Six players from Croatia's 2018 squad, the one that beat England in the semi-finals, are still around. BBC Sport senior journalist Noel Sliney identifies five players worth watching, and the list is not made up of passengers.

Luka Modric is 41 years old and has 198 caps. He returned from a fractured cheekbone sustained April 26 in time for this tournament and scored in a friendly win over Slovenia earlier this month. He needs two more appearances to reach 200 caps, a milestone FIFA recognizes only three male players have achieved.

Josko Gvardiol, 24, only returned from a fractured shinbone on May 13 after four months out. He is a risk factor on Croatia's defensive end if fully fit, and a question mark if he isn't. Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic called him "the best centre-back in the world" during the 2022 World Cup.

Luka Vuskovic, 19, on loan at Hamburg this past season, was shortlisted for both Bundesliga player and rookie of the season awards. Dalic said in April that Vuskovic "will be one of the pillars of our national team for the next 10 years." He is already starting.

Croatia are ranked 11th in the world. England will have to earn this.

The Heat Problem Is Real and Getting Worse

NPR's Rebecca Hersher published an analysis today, June 17, that more than 1 in 3 World Cup matches face dangerously hot or humid conditions. This is already happening.

In Houston, high humidity and temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit sent multiple fans to the hospital, according to Houston Public Media. At Miami's first match, the heat index exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit, triggering a National Weather Service extreme heat warning. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue recorded 10 heat-related medical calls at the stadium that day, with 2 requiring hospital transport.

Fans can bring one factory-sealed water bottle into U.S. and Canadian venues under FIFA rules. At Mexican venues, water must be purchased inside. Heat researcher Jennifer Vanos of Arizona State University told NPR that alcohol compounds the risk significantly by causing dehydration and dulling awareness of heat illness symptoms.

Scotland's situation illustrates the logistical challenge for teams, not just fans. BBC Sport reports that Steve Clarke's side trained in Fort Lauderdale and Charlotte to acclimate before their opener, used an environmental chamber at the University of the West of Scotland to simulate Florida conditions, and are running individualized hydration programs because players sweat at different rates. Their match against Morocco on Friday is forecast at 27C at kickoff. Their final group match in Miami against Brazil is predicted to exceed 30C with nearly 80% humidity. Professor Vish Unnithan of the University of the West of Scotland told BBC Scotland that "acclimation and adaptation to the conditions has probably taken place quite nicely" after 10 to 12 days in-country. Brazil and Morocco have players who live and compete in comparable heat year-round, giving them an edge that no amount of preparation fully closes.

Mexico vs. South Korea: A Rivalry That Isn't

Thursday's Group match between Mexico and South Korea carries an unusual dynamic. NPR's Juliana Kim reports that when South Korea's squad arrived at their Guadalajara hotel earlier this tournament, hundreds of Mexican supporters were there to welcome them. The chant "Coreano, hermano, ya eres Mexicano" ("Korean, brother, you are already Mexican") dates to the 2018 World Cup, when South Korea's upset of defending champions Germany kept Mexico alive. South Korea went out anyway, but the Mexican fanbase has never forgotten it.

Fans like Fernando Delgado and Josh Lee, a Mexican-American and Korean-American best friend duo in Los Angeles, told NPR they are hoping for a draw Thursday so neither has to lose. That sentiment is widespread enough to be notable. It does not happen often at a World Cup that supporters of two opposing teams are openly rooting against a decisive result.

The strongest counterpoint: fan friendship is a feel-good story, but Mexico and South Korea both need points in Group play. One of them will likely lose. The goodwill is genuine. The scoreboard is indifferent to it.

The unresolved question after today is straightforward: whether Bellingham delivers something tangible against Croatia or exits his first World Cup match as a passenger. If Rogers outperforms him from the bench, Tuchel's lineup decisions for the remainder of Group L become unpredictable fast.