Harry Kane stands alone at the top of England’s appearance list. The captain led his side out at Wembley on Thursday for the 126th time, moving one clear of goalkeeper Peter Shilton, whose 125 caps had stood as the benchmark since 1990. True to form, he then settled the Nations League meeting with Croatia himself, converting a 64th-minute penalty for a 2-1 win.
The build-up felt more like a coronation than a team sheet. Kane, who less than three weeks ago became the first Englishman in a quarter of a century to win the Ballon d’Or, showed the trophy to the crowd and posed with his four children while a giant banner of his face stretched along one stand. Shilton came onto the pitch to congratulate him and Prince William handed over a framed shirt. Croatia’s captain Luka Modric, a former Tottenham team-mate, added a thoughtful touch: a copy of the very first ball that reached Croatia.
The match itself was tighter than the occasion. Morgan Rogers put England ahead before the break, Petar Sucic pulled Croatia level just before the hour, and Kane restored the lead from the spot only minutes later. It was his 92nd international goal, leaving him eight short of a hundred, a target he called “achievable”.
Three points were enough to book England a spot in the last eight next March; whether they go through as group winners will be settled against Spain on Sunday. Thomas Tuchel credited his skipper’s work rate, talent and focus: “There is no secret,” the head coach said. Kane, who made his debut against Lithuania in 2015, said every milestone feels “10 times better” when it comes with a win, and admitted he was simply trying to take everything in.
