Record-Breaking Kane Fires England Past Croatia Ahead Of Spain Showdown

‎Harry Kane scored on his record-breaking 126th England appearance

On a night built around Harry Kane's record-breaking 126th cap, England survived a late scare to beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley, keeping their Nations League hopes alive ahead of Sunday's decisive clash with Spain.

Harry Kane on target in record-breaking night as England Edge past Croatia at Wembley...

Harry Kane celebrated becoming England's most-capped player of all time in style, scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory over Croatia that sets up a winner-takes-all UEFA Nations League showdown with Spain on Sunday for top spot in Group A3.

The captain's 126th appearance for his country was the headline story at Wembley, and it briefly overshadowed a sluggish start in which Thomas Tuchel's men struggled to take control of the game.

England needed 15 minutes just to work a sight of Croatia's goal, and even then Elliot Anderson could only blaze over the bar. When the breakthrough finally came, it owed far more to luck than to design.

Dropping deep into his trademark playmaker role, Kane picked out Jude Bellingham with a pinpoint pass. Bellingham's low ball across the six-yard box somehow evaded two sets of Croatian legs before falling to Morgan Rogers, who bundled it home from close range.

Beyond that one flash of quality, though, it was a largely flat first half from England, whose only shot on target was the goal itself. With news filtering through that Spain were also ahead at half-time in Group A3's other game, there was little for Tuchel's men to feel positive about at the break.

Whatever Tuchel said at half-time clearly had an effect, as England emerged with far more intent and carved out a golden chance for Kane to mark his landmark night in style. Declan Rice pulled the ball back for him six yards out, only for his Bayern Munich team-mate Josip Stanisic to produce a goal-saving block to deny him.

That block proved to be a major turning point, as Croatia equalised soon after. England failed to deal with a corner, and when Jarell Quansah's backwards header towards Jordan Pickford fell short, Petar Sucic nipped in to steer home the equaliser.

Quansah redeemed himself almost immediately at the other end. Hauled down by Ivan Smolcic from a corner, he won England a penalty - and Kane was never going to let anyone else take it on his 126th cap. The captain sent the keeper the wrong way, stroking his spot-kick straight down the middle to restore England's lead.

The nerves never really went away, though. England almost let the lead slip for a second time when Nikola Vlasic wriggled free on the edge of the box and bent a left-footed effort agonisingly wide of the far post.

Momentum Shift

There was a brief moment of relief in the final five minutes when James Garner swept home what looked like his first England goal, only for the celebrations to be cut short - Bellingham had drifted offside in the build-up.

Job done at @WembleyStadium 🦁 https://t.co/m0b2iAR1qj

— England (@England) November 12, 2026

In the end, though, the three points were all that mattered. England held on for a huge victory that sets up Sunday's winner-takes-all showdown with leaders Spain, where only a win will be enough to claim top spot.

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