Some opponents you draw by chance. Croatia, for England, feel like fate. Tonight in Arlington, the two meet on the World Cup stage once more - and the ghosts of Moscow are impossible to ignore.
The stage is AT&T Stadium, the occasion is Group L's opening night, and the subplot writes itself. The last time these nations met at a World Cup, Croatia broke English hearts: a 2-1 extra-time win in the 2018 semi-final, when Kieran Trippier's early free-kick was overturned and Mario Mandzukic struck the killer blow that sent Croatia to the final instead.
Eight years on, England return with a point to prove. Leading them is Harry Kane - the captain, the talisman, and his country's all-time leading goalscorer. Kane knows this opponent and this pain well; he won the Golden Boot at that 2018 tournament, only to watch Croatia end the dream.
Croatia, for their part, are no one's idea of an easy opener. Finalists in 2018 and a side built on tournament know-how, they have made a habit of dragging bigger names into long, draining battles - and winning the ones that matter.
England will want control, tempo and an early goal to settle nerves that history has frayed. Croatia will want to slow it down, frustrate, and remind England that nights like these rarely go to script.
Revenge against pedigree. Hurt against history. Under the lights at AT&T Stadium, England get the rematch they have waited years for - and the chance to finally rewrite the ending.