Kane breaks Shilton's caps record and scores winner as England beat Croatia 2-1

Harry Kane became England's most-capped men's player and scored the winning goal on the same occasion, converting a second-half penalty to beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday 12 November and send England into the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.

Kane's 126th cap took him past Peter Shilton's previous record of 125, according to England Football. His goal, from the spot on 64 minutes, was his 92nd for his country, Sky Sports reported.

The win secures England a place in the last eight in March 2027. It also sets up a match against Spain on Sunday 15 November that will decide who goes through as Group A3 winners.

A harder game than Rijeka

England had beaten Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka in October 2026, and the visitors arrived at Wembley on a run of three straight defeats in all competitions. They had lost seven matches and conceded 28 goals in 2026 before kick-off, according to England Football.

This was a different contest. Thomas Tuchel said England needed time to adjust to Croatia's shape.

"It was an okay performance overall. It took us a while to figure the press out because they played in a back five," Tuchel said, as reported by Sky Sports. "Once we figured that out after 15 minutes we were the better team. You felt the confidence coming."

Morgan Rogers put England ahead on 24 minutes, and for a while it looked like the evening would follow the script. Then Petar Sučić equalised on 59 minutes.

England's response was quick. Ivan Smolčić fouled Jarell Quansah in the penalty area, the decision was confirmed after a VAR review, and Kane scored the penalty five minutes after Croatia had drawn level.

It was not comfortable from there. James Garner had a goal ruled out for offside, which would have given England breathing room, and Ante Budimir headed over in injury time with the chance to take a point.

"Croatia had nothing to lose and you have to overcome these moments," Tuchel said.

Kane focused on the points

Kane acknowledged the welcome he received before kick-off but was quick to move on from it.

"It was an incredible gesture and reception at the start of the game but once it starts, it's just about getting the three points," he said, as quoted by England Football.

He was also candid about where England fell short. "We gave away a few too many easy balls, especially in our own half, which killed our momentum a bit but we definitely had enough chances to score two or three but we were playing against a good team."

That assessment fits the numbers. England had scored 39 goals in 16 matches in 2026 before this game, including 14 in their first four Nations League matches of the campaign, according to England Football. Two goals, one of them a penalty, is a modest return by that standard, and Tuchel's "okay" was a fair word for it.

Still, the result extends England's hold over this opponent. They had won each of their previous four meetings with Croatia, and this makes it five.

Spain and the seeding question

Qualification is done, but the group is not. According to Sky Sports, the top two teams from each League A group enter the quarter-final draw, with group winners seeded and drawn against runners-up.

The ties will be played over two legs in March 2027, and the winners advance to the Nations League finals in June. Finishing first in Group A3 would mean England are seeded in that draw, so there is still something to play for.

That is decided when Spain meet England on Sunday 15 November, with kick-off at 19:45 UTC. Croatia play the Czech Republic at the same time, looking to end a losing run that now stands at four matches.