Kane breaks England men’s caps record and sends his side into the Nations League quarter-finals
The captain passed Peter Shilton’s men’s appearance record and scored the winning penalty in a 2–1 victory over Croatia at Wembley.
Harry Kane had the England men’s appearance record as soon as he stepped onto the Wembley pitch on Thursday. By the end of the night, he had also put England into the Nations League quarter-finals. His 64th-minute penalty secured a 2–1 win over Croatia on 12 November, taking him to 92 senior international goals on the night he won cap number 126.
Peter Shilton, whose tally of 125 had stood since 1990, was part of the presentation before kick-off, according to the Football Association. Kane had already drawn level with him against Czechia in October. The Wembley fixture gave the striker a chance to pass the goalkeeper in the stadium where he scored on his senior debut against Lithuania in 2015. He had been on the pitch for only 79 seconds that night.
Why the result mattered
England’s opener came after 24 minutes, when Morgan Rogers turned in a ball played across by Jude Bellingham. Croatia equalised through Petar Sučić in the 59th minute after Jarell Quansah tried to head the ball back to Jordan Pickford. Quansah was then involved at the other end as Ivan Smolčić pulled him down at a corner, according to Sky Sports. Kane converted after a video review led to the award of the penalty.
Croatia still had chances to take a point. Nikola Vlašić shot narrowly wide in the closing stages and Ante Budimir headed just over in added time. England’s fourth win in five group games guarantees a top-two finish. The Football Association says the quarter-finals are due to be played over two legs in March 2027. There is one group fixture left, away to leaders Spain on Sunday 15 November, with first place still available.
Analysis — A record and a question for England
The game gave a good illustration of how much can happen in the space of a few minutes in a tight international. England had kept Croatia behind for more than half an hour after Rogers scored, then saw that lead wiped out by a mistake from a set play. At the next decisive moment, a corner at the other end gave Kane a chance to put England back in front. That he took it explains the result. The way the chances arose explains why it stayed in doubt.
There was also value in the move for England’s first goal. Kane helped start it with a pass to Bellingham, while Rogers supplied the finish by getting to the ball from a different angle. Against Spain, where England can still improve their group position, the attacking question is how often the team can create that kind of opening. The penalty settled Thursday’s match. The opening goal offered a glimpse of what England can build in open play.