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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTuchel praised Kane\u2019s \u201cabsolute commitment\u201d after the Bayern Munich forward made a late intervention in his own penalty area to deny Croatia a third goal and revealed that midfielder Declan Rice was taken off as a precautionary measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI saw a bit of discomfort and I asked him, and he pointed directly to this lower back, up behind the hamstring,\u201d said Tuchel. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to take any risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was the moment to protect him, and I think Reece James did so well to replace him in central midfield, a fantastic game. I hope it\u2019s nothing more and he reassured me at the end, it\u2019s good, it\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kane opened the scoring with a retaken penalty in the 12th minute before Croatia levelled 24 minutes later when Martin Baturina capitalised on errors by England\u2019s midfield and unleashed a shot that Jordan Pickford got a hand to but could not stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kane then equalled the England World Cup scoring record of 10 goals held by Gary Lineker when he was given the freedom of the penalty box to head home from a Declan Rice corner in the 42nd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Croatia made it 2-2 in the fifth minute of time added on at the end of the first half when Petar Musa was picked out by Ivan Perisic\u2019s deft header and he blasted the ball past Pickford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two minutes after the interval, Bellingham sprinted half the length of the pitch after being set free by Elliot Anderson and his low-angled shot went in off the post. A counter-attacking move finished by Rashford in the 85th made sure of the win which leaves England well placed in Group L.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Wednesday\u2019s other Group L game (early hours of Thursday in SA), Caleb Yirenkyi scored deep into stoppage time to earn Ghana a 1-0 victory over Panama, earning the African side a crucial three points in their bid to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yirenkyi\u2019s goal came in the 95th minute after Thomas-Asante skipped past Panama defender Jose Cordoba and played a pass into the area, which the 20-year-old Yirenkyi bundled home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Panama threw everyone forward for a late free kick in a desperate attempt to get an equaliser, but Ghana hung on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cecilio Waterman\u2019s curling strike in the second minute forced an excellent save from Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi, who was replaced by Benjamin Asare at the start of the second half due to injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ghana next face Group L leaders England. Panama will try to secure their first World Cup win when they take on Croatia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Group K on Wednesday (early housr of Thursday in SA), after Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by Democaritic Republic of Congo, Colombia winger Luis Diaz dazzled at a raucous Azteca Stadium as his side marked their return to the World Cup with a 3-1 win over tournament debutants Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colombia, who missed the 2022 tournament in Qatar, struggled in the early stages but broke through in the 41st minute when a brilliant ball lifted into the area by Diaz was hooked in on the turn by Daniel Munoz, who had ghosted in behind the defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uzbekistan equalised on the hour mark after a shot from striker Eldor Shomurodov was spilled by goalkeeper Camilo Vargas and Abbosbek Fayzullaev was on the line to head in. However, Diaz restored Colombia\u2019s lead five minutes later by slotting the ball in from the left of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Substitute Jaminton Campaz headed in a third in stoppage time and Colombia top Group K after Portugal and Democratic Republic of Congo drew 1-1. The South Americans face DR Congo on Tuesday in Guadalajara after Uzbekistan play Portugal in Houston. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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