Harry Kane marked his record 126th England cap with the winning penalty as England beat Croatia 2-1 in UEFA Nations League League A at Wembley on Thursday 12 November. Morgan Rogers gave England the lead, Petar Sučić equalised and Kane restored the advantage five minutes later.
Match facts
- Result: England 2-1 Croatia (half-time 1-0)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League A, Group A3, Matchday 5
- Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
- Scorers: England - Rogers 24', Kane 64' (pen); Croatia - Sučić 59'
- Red cards: None
- Next: Spain v England, Sunday 15 November; Croatia v Czechia
How the match unfolded
Before kick-off, Kane showed his Ballon d'Or trophy to the Wembley crowd and was presented with a commemorative shirt by Peter Shilton, whose record of 125 caps he passed, and the Prince of Wales. The Football Association said Luka Modrić also handed him a gift from the Croatian Football Federation.
Croatia, beaten 7-0 by England in Rijeka last month, started confidently and won early corners. England went ahead in the 24th minute when Kane picked out Jude Bellingham, whose first-time ball across goal was bundled in by Rogers from close range.
Early in the second half, Kane was denied by a block from his Bayern Munich team-mate Josip Stanišić after a Declan Rice cutback. Croatia levelled in the 59th minute: from a corner, Jarell Quansah's header back towards Jordan Pickford fell short, and Sučić poked the ball in.
Quansah made amends almost immediately. He was pulled down by Ivan Smolčić at an England corner, and after a VAR review, referee Morten Krogh awarded a penalty and booked Smolčić. Kane converted it in the 64th minute for his 92nd England goal.
Croatia pushed late. Nikola Vlašić shot just wide in the 82nd minute, James Garner had a goal ruled out for offside, and substitute Ante Budimir headed over in stoppage time.
What it means for England and Kane
The 33-year-old Kane, England's record scorer, now holds the men's appearance record outright after equalling Shilton's 125 caps against Czechia last month. According to the FA, the game was also his 99th as England captain, extending his own record.
UEFA's official standings show England and Spain have both qualified for the quarter-finals, which are played in March. Spain beat Czechia 2-0 in Prague on the same night and lead Group A3 with 15 points from five games, three ahead of England.
What happens next?
Thomas Tuchel's side travel to Madrid to face Spain on Sunday in the final group game, with first place at stake. England need a win, as a draw would be enough for Spain, who won 3-2 at Wembley in September. Croatia host Czechia in Osijek on the same day.
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