England 2-1 Croatia: Kane delivers fitting winner on landmark outing

Harry Kane marked his record-breaking outing with a decisive second-half penalty as England qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Croatia.

Having matched Peter Shilton's benchmark during the last international break, Kane became England's most-capped player with his 126th appearance on Thursday.

Fittingly, the Bayern Munich talisman stepped up from the penalty spot to restore England's lead just past the hour after Petar Sučić had cancelled out Morgan Rogers' first-half breakthrough.

Kane also played a huge role in the 24th-minute opener. He lofted a wonderful pass for Jude Bellingham to volley into the six-yard box, with Rogers bundling home after Joško Gvardiol failed to clear.

Mateo Kovačić and Martin Baturina tested Jordan Pickford in response as Croatia, who lost 7-0 to England last month, produced an improved first-half showing compared to their dismal performance in Rijeka.

England should have doubled their lead after the interval as Anthony Gordon whipped wide, before Josip Stanišić cleared off the line to stop Kane from converting Declan Rice's offload.

Bellingham then dragged a tame effort at Dominik Livaković after Gordon's penalty appeals were waved away, and Croatia made the hosts pay for those missed chances with a 59th-minute equaliser.

A Croatia corner bounced off Gvardiol before Jarell Quansah clumsily headed straight into the path of Sučić, who thrashed high past Pickford from point-blank range.

But Quansah made amends four minutes later, winning a penalty from Ivan Smolčić's shirt pull, awarded after a VAR review, before Kane clipped down the middle from 12 yards.

Slaven Bilić's side fired another warning when Nikola Vlašić breezed past Dan Burn and angled narrowly wide, before Mario Pašalić's volley almost beat Pickford after James Garner saw a late finish ruled out.

Ante Budimir then headed just over from another Croatia corner as England managed to hold on and set up Sunday's decisive visit to Madrid, where they will need to beat world champions Spain to top Group A3.

Wembley salutes Kane's historic moment for England

Although, for the first time in history, the Three Lions started with as many as five players who play club football outside of England, including Kane, Gordon, Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold, there was a sentimental feeling at Wembley.

Having claimed the prestigious Ballon d'Or last month, Kane received that trophy from Prince William, greeted Shilton after taking his outright England record, and received a celebratory gift from Croatia's Luka Modrić.

If there was any doubt over how Kane became the first English Ballon d'Or winner in 25 years, he showed exactly why with his role in Rogers' opener, but Bellingham's influence should not be understated.

Since the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, no England player has more goal involvements than Bellingham's 14 (eight goals, six assists).

A record-extending 92nd goal for England then proved a fitting, if somewhat expected, reward for the excellent Kane after Sučić briefly threatened to dampen the occasion.

Despite Thursday belonging to Kane, Tuchel's influence is quietly going under the radar. England have now won 21 of 27 games under his charge.

And with another record ticked off for Kane, Tuchel will hope the next celebration comes either with Nations League success or at the next major tournament, Euro 2028, on home soil.