England have finally got their 2026 World Cup campaign up and running.
Residing in Group L for the prestigious tournament, Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions have had to endure a long wait to get their competition underway, but it was worth the wait for England fans watching on in Texas and around the world.
Indeed, England's intimidating attacking might proved to be too strong for the usually hard-to-beat Croats, as Tuchel's men eventually got over the line to a convincing 4-2 victory, courtesy of a typically cool Harry Kane brace.
There was a lack of Southampton representation on the pitch, unfortunately, with the 2022 World Cup squad selected by Gareth Southgate boasting both Luke Shaw and Aaron Ramsdale at least, with Shaw a former Saint, while his goalkeeper counterpart itches for a summer move away from St. Mary's.
Valentino Livramento was set to be a rare ex-Southampton figure at this year's World Cup, but he would heartbreakingly pull up with an injury in the build-up to this opener with Croatia, as he boarded a very early plane home.
Livramento's untimely injury
BBC Sport has reported that Livramento has had to walk away from the camp early with a calf injury.
The 23-year-old pulling up with an untimely injury isn't the greatest shock in the world, considering he was only fit enough to make 17 Premier League appearances lasr season for Newcastle United, but it will still be a bitter pill to swallow for the defender, who has only been capped six times for his nation.
When he's at his very best, he is in with a shout of being Tuchel's main starting presence down the right, with Saints fans only able to watch him 34 times on the South Coast, before the Magpies poached him.
Picking up a goal and an assist during his only full top-flight season with his ex-employers, Livramento is the perfect blend of being forward-thinking, while also being switched on at the back, with 5.1 duels won on average too from 28 Premier League games during his standout 2021/22 campaign.
Lining up five times in the Champions League this season just gone for Eddie Howe's men, as well, the 23-year-old would have been champing at the bit to prove himself on another nerve-wracking stage at the World Cup.
Instead, Trevoh Chalobah will now replace him in Tuchel's ranks, with England looking wobbly at the back against Zlatko Dalić's men at the Dallas Stadium, as Livramento was out of action.
England looked shaky at the back without him
Reece James is the German's preferred option in the right-back spot, which makes sense, as the 52-year-old managed James when the pair were together at Chelsea.
James would only win two of his seven duels against the rampant Croats, so if Livramento was fit, he would've been watching on, wondering if he stood a chance of a first-team start in the Group L clashes to follow.
With a 32-year-old John Stones also looking uneasy at points, it's clear that the ex-Saints defender's time to shine in the national team will come, as he has many World Cups up his sleeve he can be selected for, away the ageing centre-back.
It will just be a shame he can't prove himself in the here and now, with Southampton fans falling back on the likes of Cyle Larin, who currently plays in their ranks, for World Cup heroes to chant passionately for, as the 31-year-old aims to take Canada to the knockout stages.
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