Harry Kane marked his record-breaking 126th England cap with a penalty goal as England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday to secure a place in the Nations League quarterfinals, keeping them second in Group A3 behind Spain.
Chelsea forward Morgan Rogers opened the scoring for England in the 24th minute after a neat move involving Kane and Jude Bellingham, poking home after Croatia's Josko Gvardiol got in a tangle.
Croatia levelled just before the hour mark when England defender Jarell Quansah misdirected a header from close range towards Jordan Pickford following a corner. Petar Sucic stabbed home the loose ball. England retook the lead minutes later after Quansah's shirt was tugged in the penalty area. Referee Morten Krogh initially did not award a spot kick but was sent to the monitor by the VAR and pointed to the spot, with Kane drilling home for his 92nd England goal.
Kane won his 126th cap at kickoff, taking him clear of former goalkeeper Peter Shilton. A giant banner was raised before the match with a picture of the 33-year-old and the words "England's Finest". Shilton was part of a pre-match presentation to honour the captain, along with Football Association patron Prince William.
"After the first game when we lost here against them [Spain], we knew we left a bit out there," Kane told ITV. "We knew we could've done a bit better. We said to ourselves, 'Let's win every game until the next one and see what happens'. It's the perfect opportunity now on Sunday to try and prove ourselves."
Thomas Tuchel's side have a chance to avenge their 3-2 defeat against the world champions in their Nations League opener when they travel to Madrid for Sunday's clash. Spain beat Czechia 2-0 in Prague on Thursday.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- England secured a top-two finish in their group, guaranteeing a place in the Nations League quarterfinals in March.
- Harry Kane's record-breaking 126th cap underscores his enduring importance to the national team as their all-time leading scorer and captain.
- Sunday's match against Spain offers a chance to avenge an earlier defeat and finish top of Group A3.
Background
Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich striker and England captain, broke Peter Shilton's men's caps record of 125 appearances. England lost their Nations League opener 3-2 to Spain at Wembley but have since won their remaining group games to qualify for the knockout stage. The Nations League is a biennial international competition organised by UEFA.
Key Perspectives
Harry Kane: called the upcoming match against Spain "the perfect opportunity" for England to prove themselves after the earlier home defeat.
What to Watch
- Sunday's clash in Madrid between England and Spain, with group leadership at stake.
- The draw for the Nations League quarterfinals, which will determine England's opponent in March.
- How Thomas Tuchel's side performs against a top-tier opponent away from home.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHarry Kane marked his record-breaking 126th England cap with a penalty goal.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Harry Kane celebrated his record-breaking 126th England cap with a goal from the penalty spot as England beat Croatia 2-1 on Thursday”
- SupportedEngland beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday to book a place in the Nations League quarterfinals.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Harry Kane celebrated his record-breaking 126th England cap with a goal from the penalty spot as England beat Croatia 2-1 on Thursday to book a place in the Nations League quarterfinals.”
- SupportedEngland remained second in Group A3 behind Spain.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “But goals from Morgan Rogers and captain Kane kept England second in Group A3 behind Spain, confirming their place in the Nations League last eight in March.”
- SupportedEngland will face Spain in Madrid on Sunday.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Thomas Tuchel’s men have a chance to avenge their 3-2 defeat against the world champions in their Nations League opener when they travel to Madrid for Sunday’s clash.”
- SupportedKane told ITV: “After the first game when we lost here against them [Spain], we knew we left a bit out there. We knew we could’ve done a bit better. We said to ourselves, ‘Let’s win every game until the next one and see what happens’. It’s the perfect opportunity now on Sunday to try and prove ourselves.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““After the first game when we lost here against them [Spain], we knew we left a bit out there,” Kane told ITV. “We knew we could’ve done a bit better. We said to ourselves, ‘Let’s win every game until the next one and see what happens’. It’s the perfect opportunity now on Sunday to try and prove ourselves.””
- SupportedSpain beat Czechia 2-0 in Prague on Thursday.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Spain beat Czechia 2-0 in Prague on Thursday.”
- SupportedChelsea forward Morgan Rogers scored England’s opening goal in the 24th minute.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Chelsea forward Rogers broke the deadlock in the 24th minute in slightly fortuitous fashion, following a neat move by the home side.”
- SupportedRogers’s goal followed a move involving Kane and Jude Bellingham, before Josko Gvardiol got in a tangle and Rogers poked the ball past the goalkeeper.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Kane floated a ball to Jude Bellingham on the right of the penalty area and the Real Madrid man cushioned the ball the first time across the area towards Rogers. Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol had a chance to clear but got in a tangle and Chelsea’s Rogers poked the ball past goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.”
- SupportedCroatia equalised just before the hour after Jarell Quansah misdirected a header towards Jordan Pickford, and Petar Sucic scored from the loose ball.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “But the visitors levelled against the run of play just before the hour mark after a glaring error by England defender Jarell Quansah, who misdirected a header from close range towards Jordan Pickford following a Croatia corner. The ball fell to Petar Sucic, who stabbed home.”
- SupportedAfter Quansah’s shirt was tugged in the penalty area, VAR sent referee Morten Krogh to the monitor and he awarded a penalty.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Minutes later England were back in front, with Bayer Leverkusen defender Quansah again at the heart of the action after his shirt was tugged in the penalty area. Referee Morten Krogh initially did not award a penalty, but he was sent to the monitor by the VAR and pointed to the spot.”
- SupportedKane scored his 92nd England goal from the penalty.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Kane made no mistake, drilling home for a record-extending 92nd England goal.”
- SupportedKane’s 126th cap took him clear of former goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s record.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Ballon d’Or winner Kane won his 126th cap when the game kicked off, taking him clear of his tie with former goalkeeper Peter Shilton.”