GARY LINEKER watched Harry Kane equal his World Cup record – alongside snubbed Harry Maguire.
The former England striker, 65, is in New York for the tournament to film his The Rest Is Football podcast for Netflix.
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Harry Kane scored twice to match Gary Lineker’s World Cup tally Credit: AP
He watched the game alongside Harry Maguire Credit: Netflix / The Rest Is Football
And he took in the Three Lions’ opening Group L match against Croatia with the pod team, including co-host Micah Richards.
They were joined by Maguire, who was controversially left out of Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad.
Lineker and Richards opted for the 2026 England shirts while Maguire was in casual clothes for the watchalong.
Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot – at the second attempt – before England were pegged back.
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That was his ninth World Cup goal, taking him one behind Lineker’s Three Lions tally of ten.
And when the skipper restored the lead just before half-time – ironically a thumping header Maguire would have been proud of – Lineker was genuinely overjoyed.
The camera filming the trio showed the former Match of the Day host shake his fist in celebration as a beaming Maguire clapped next to him.
Lineker then lifted up both hands and repeatedly said “ten, ten, ten” as Kane levelled up.
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This year’s World Cup is like no other as a record-breaking 48 nations compete to lift football’s biggest prize.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought.
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Lineker held up ten fingers to show the pair were level Credit: Netflix / The Rest Is Football
He scored his ten goals across the 1986 and 1990 World Cups – and won the Golden Boot at Mexico 86.
Kane got his first World Cup goals against Tunisia in 2018 and also claimed the Golden Boot on six.
He added two more in Qatar before his brace against Croatia.
Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford added two more after half-time to secure the 4-2 victory – after a fiery rollicking from Tuchel at the break.
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ENGLAND, or ‘Set Piece FC’, kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign in Dallas with a thrilling 3-2 win over Croatia.
Harry Kane opened the scoring with a retaken penalty after Croatian encroachment, but Martin Baturina pulled a rabbit from his red and white checkered hat with a sharp strike that rattled the net of Jordan Pickford.
England briefly restored their lead when a Declan Rice corner found an unmarked Kane to head home his second.
However, Croatia hit back just before the break, as FC Dallas forward Petar Musa finished a slick team move on his home turf to leave the match 2-2 at halftime.
England stayed in the dressing room much longer than their opposition at half-time, and it showed as they dominated the second half.
Who else but Jude Bellingham ran in behind the Croatian defence and fired England’s third into the bottom corner with a stunning solo effort, as Thomas Tuchel‘s side turned up the heat in Dallas.
Marcus Rashford then wrapped up a confident win by switching onto his right foot in the box and curling into the corner.
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Lineker scored his first World Cup goals with a hat-trick against Poland in 1986 Credit: AFP – Getty
But there were injury fears over both Kane and Declan Rice.
Kane was spotted with strapping on his leg after the game while Rice limped off early.
Boss Tuchel’s comments did not alleviate the concerns, either.
The German said: “Let’s see. I hope they’re OK.
“I would never take Declan out normally.
“We are exhausted but I loved exhausted players in the dressing room.
“It’s pressure, it’s the first game of the tournament.”
