FIFA urged to ban England's World Cup tactic that worked perfectly vs Croatia

FIFA have been urged to ban Harry Kane’s controversial penalty tactic after England’s 4-2 win over Croatia.

Thomas Tuchel’s side started their World Cup campaign in style with a convincing win over their Group L opponents.

The Three Lions took the lead from the penalty spot after 12 minutes, but things almost got off to a disastrous start after Kane saw his first attempt saved by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković.

However, the Bayern striker was afforded a second chance as the shot-stopper was adjudged to have encroached off his goal line, leading to a retake which Kane smashed home.

The England skipper has come in for criticism for his stuttering penalty technique following the match, with former Ghana and AC Milan attacker Kevin-Prince Boateng calling for it to be banned.

“(It) should be banned,” he told CBS.

FIFA rules state a goalkeeper must have one foot on or above the goal line when the penalty taker strikes the ball.

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Croatia levelled through Martin Baturina after 36 minutes before Kane nodded home his second of the evening on the stroke of half-time to make it 2-1.

But the entertainment did not stop there, with the Croatians once again equalising, this time through Petar Musa.

Tuchel’s half-time team talk worked a treat as Jude Bellingham slotted home just two minutes after the interval to make it 3-2 before substitute Marcus Rashford secured the victory, making it 4-2 after 85 minutes.

England return to action against Ghana on June 23.

Kane ‘knew’ Livaković would come off his goal line

Despite no doubt having a nervous moment after seeing his first penalty saved, the England captain insisted he was aware that Livaković liked to move when facing penalties.

"When I watched the clips, I saw he likes to move early, so I knew that there was a chance that if I did the stutter, he would come off the line," Kane told BBC Sport.

"I was 80% sure that it was off the line. I wasn't 100% sure, then obviously when it got retaken, I changed the technique a little bit. This is all why I do the research, and in the end it worked out nicely for me."

Even if Livaković had remained on his line, the fact that Joško Gvardiol encroached may also have led to a retake.

Kane credits Tuchel after Croatia win

Kane was quick to emphasise the importance of Tuchel’s half-time team talk after the match, with the forward saying:

“I thought it was a game of two halves. First half, we were OK. Really disappointed to concede in the way we did, I thought we dropped off.

“Credit to the manager, he gave us a speech at half-time and said if we lose, we lose in our way and I think we saw that in the way we came out in the second half.

“We went full gas and they couldn’t live with it. Credit to everyone for the first game of the tournament.

“Without the ball, we went a bit more aggressive. It was difficult. They have players like Luka Modrić dropping in and you’re trying to figure out who to pick up.

“The intensity we want, it’s our biggest strength and we’ll have to use that more.

“The way we controlled the game once we went ahead, we never really looked like we were in danger and then scored on the counter-attack. We had a spell where we could have scored three or four.”