LONDON — Harry Kane marked his record-breaking 126th England appearance with the winning goal as England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday to book a place in the Nations League quarter-finals.
The captain passed Peter Shilton, who won 125 caps between 1970 and 1990, to become the most-capped player in the history of the England men's team. Fittingly, he settled the match from the penalty spot in the 64th minute, his 92nd goal for England — extending a scoring record he took from Wayne Rooney in March 2023.
Morgan Rogers had put England ahead in the first half, bundling home after Jude Bellingham's volley into the six-yard box and a failed clearance by Josko Gvardiol. Croatia drew level just before the hour when Petar Sucic punished an error by Jarell Quansah, but Quansah made amends within minutes, winning a penalty after Ivan Smolcic wrestled him to the ground at a corner. After a VAR review, Kane stepped up and clipped the ball down the middle from 12 yards.
Thomas Tuchel's side moved to 12 points from five matches in Group A3, ensuring they go through to the quarter-finals next March. They can still win the group by beating world champions Spain in Madrid on Sunday — Spain beat Czechia 2-0 on Thursday to stay ahead.
It was a complicated night as well as a celebratory one. Kane admitted afterwards that England gave the ball away too easily in their own half, and Croatia threatened late, with Ante Budimir heading just over from a corner. But the job was done: a fourth win in a row, and knockout football secured.
Elsewhere on the same Nations League night, Italy produced a dominant performance to beat France 3-1, handing Zinedine Zidane his first defeat as France coach. Italy, France and Belgium will battle it out next Tuesday for two quarter-final spots in Group A1, with Italy and France level on 10 points.
