England 2-1 Croatia: Report by Layth Yousif at Wembley Stadium
Harry Kane is inevitable. On a memorable Wembley evening for the England skipper the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner scored the winner on his record-breaking 126th international appearance for the Three Lions.
In front of more than 80,000 fans on a cold Thursday evening at the national stadium, Kane broke Peter Shilton’s men’s appearance record of 125 games before notching his 92nd goal for his country.
A pre-match Tifo tribute the feat was raised behind the goal before Kane raised the Ballon d’Or to the crowd before, prior to being honoured by previous holder Shilton, and Prince William.
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Prior to kick off Kane had scored 91 goals for the Three Lions – 38 more than any other player – and was aiming to become the first since Wayne Rooney back in March 2009 to score two or more goals in three appearances in a row.
Captain Kane led the line while Trent Alexander-Arnold started at right back with Morgan Rogers playing on the right wing. Declan Rice made his 81st appearance, while fellow Arsenal colleagues Eberechi Eze and Ben White started from the bench.
When these two sides met in the Nations League in the last international break, the Three Lions routed Croatia in Rijeka with Kane and Bukayo Saka each netting twice while Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers all scored.
When the two teams met at this summer’s World Cup it was a far closer clash, but England won the game 4-2 on a sweltering afternoon in Dallas – with many suggesting the second half was the peak of the Three Lions’ performance during the tournament.
Following the pre-match awards, the match understandably fell flat in the opening stages, before Morgan Rogers put the Three Lions 1-0 ahead from close range in the 24th minute. The goal coming after good work by Jude Bellingham along the right flank, who squared towards Rogers in the box. The ball was scuffed by Gvardiol, leaving the Chelsea midfielder to pounce and squeeze the ball home. In truth however, the first half had the air of an exhibition match, after the pre-match baubles as we reached the break with the home side ahead, with the visitors happy that their humiliation in Rijeka was not being replicated.
With the crowd willing Kane to score, never has a fluffed chance been met with such empathy, as when the England skipper scuffed at the ball shortly after the restart, in a bid to crown such an honours’ laden evening with a goal.
However, Kane’s inevitable goal was to follow when Jarrell Quansah was manhandled by Ivan Smolcic at an England corner. Referee Morten Krogh wasn’t interested but a VAR review sent him to the monitor to think again, prior to the Danish official changing his mind, and pointing to the spot.
Up stepped Kane -who else – as the Bayern Munich captain fired home straight down the middle to make it 92 international goals on his 126th international appearance.
Speaking after the match, Kane’s boss Tuchel said:
