England Faces Croatia Defender in World Cup Opener

England will open its World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday in Dallas. The match pits England captain Harry Kane against a 19-year-old Croatian centre-back who has drawn interest from several clubs after a strong loan spell in Germany. The defender joined Tottenham in 2023 for a reported £12 million fee but has yet to appear in a competitive match for the club.

He spent last season on loan at Hamburg, where he was named to the Bundesliga Team of the Season, scored six goals in 30 appearances, and won the league’s Goal of the Year award.

Brighton submitted a £30 million bid for the player last weekend, according to the Press Association. The offer was rejected, and further bids are expected during the summer window.

Brooks warned that England must prepare for the player’s influence on set pieces. He described the defender as dominant in the air, comfortable using both feet, and unusually effective at arriving in scoring areas at both ends of the pitch. Brooks compared the player’s reading of the game and ball-winning instinct to former defenders Sergio Ramos and Pepe.

“That could be a centre-back there that could be worth £80m plus. You’ve got a player here that is potentially a generational player.”