Bayern Munich striker Kane, who will be expected to provide England's goals, said: "For sure it's one of the best opportunities we will have as a team to win it.

"I think everyone is eager to just start well and prove that we have the capabilities of going far in this tournament."

Kane comes to the FIFA World Cup after another prolific season in Germany and at 32 has experience of going deep with his country on the biggest stages.

England's squad is a balance of older heads and youth, and Kane said: "Ultimately, for me, the message is just to be free in the mind.

"I think, in any tournament you play, if you feel like you go for it, you go for the wins, you go for the pressing, you leave it all out on the pitch, then you can hold your head up high no matter what the outcome is."

England twice fell at the final hurdle in the European Championship and reached the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar in 2022 under Gareth Southgate.

That came after a run to the semi-finals in Russia four years earlier - where they were beaten by Wednesday's opponents Croatia.

Also in a competitive Group L are Ghana and Panama.

Source: AFP