Harry Kane scored the winning penalty on his record 126th England appearance as England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday. Morgan Rogers opened the scoring, Petar Sučić equalised, and the win booked England’s Nations League quarter-final place before Sunday’s trip to leaders Spain.
London, England: Wembley saluted its captain before kick-off and then waited most of the night for him to deliver. Harry Kane showed his Ballon d’Or to a crowd of more than 80,000, made his 126th appearance to become England’s most-capped player, and scored from the penalty spot in the 64th minute to settle a 2-1 win over Croatia that confirmed Thomas Tuchel’s side a place in the Nations League quarter-finals.
A ceremony before the football
Kane collected the 2026 Ballon d’Or in October and carried it onto the pitch before the match. Sir Peter Shilton, whose appearance record Kane had matched against the Czech Republic last month, honoured him on the night he passed it, and the crowd stood to applaud him.
Croatia arrived bruised. England had beaten them 7-0 in Rijeka on 3 October, and manager Slaven Bilić was without several injured players, with Ivan Perišić suspended after his red card against Spain. Bilić switched to a back three.
Rogers pounces on a slip
Croatia pressed England on both flanks early and won a couple of corners, and England’s first effort on goal did not arrive until the 16th minute, when Elliot Anderson fired over from the edge of the area. The breakthrough came in the 24th. Kane worked the ball out to Jude Bellingham, whose delivery into the middle found Josko Gvardiol slow to react, and Morgan Rogers bundled it in from close range. England led 1-0 at half-time.
Sučić punishes a corner
England started the second half on the front foot. A Croatian defender got in the way of a low Declan Rice cut-back meant for Kane, Bellingham saw an effort saved, and Anthony Gordon fired wide. Then England handed Croatia a way back. From a corner in the 59th minute, Jarell Quansah’s headed clearance fell straight to Petar Sučić, who made it 1-1.
Quansah makes amends, Kane makes it count
The equaliser lasted barely five minutes. Croatia wing-back Smolčić was penalised for pulling back Quansah in the box, and after a VAR review England were awarded a penalty. Kane stepped up, sent the kick straight down the middle past goalkeeper Livaković and scored.
Croatia pushed for a second equaliser, but England held on.
England look to Madrid
The win lifted England to 12 points in Group A3, three behind Spain, who beat ten-man Czechia 2-0 in Prague on the same night through a penalty from Álex Baena and a stoppage-time goal from Marc Pubill. England visit Madrid on Sunday to face the group leaders, who welcome Lamine Yamal back for the game. Croatia host Czechia in Osijek the same day.
Score: England 2 (Rogers 24’, Kane 64’ pen.) Croatia 1 (Sučić 59’) — UEFA Nations League, League A Group 3, Wembley Stadium, London, 12 November 2026.
Group A3 after matchday 5: Spain 15 points, England 12.
