England 2-1 Croatia
UEFA Nations League, League A, Group 3 – Round 5
Thursday 12 November 2026 | Wembley Stadium | Referee: Morten Krogh
Attendance: Full house on a historic night
Harry Kane marked his record-breaking 126th England appearance — becoming the most-capped men’s player in the country’s history, surpassing Peter Shilton’s long-standing mark of 125 — by scoring the winner from the penalty spot as Thomas Tuchel’s side edged Croatia 2-1 at Wembley. The victory secured England’s place in the Nations League quarter-finals and set up a top-of-the-group showdown with world champions Spain in Madrid on Sunday
Pre-match
Kane, fresh from winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or, was honoured before kick-off with a presentation involving gifts, a giant tifo, and recognition from figures including Prince William and Croatia’s Luka Modrić. England lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Jordan Pickford in goal; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Dan Burn and Lewis Hall in defence; Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson in midfield; Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers supporting Kane. Croatia, seeking to bounce back from a 7-0 thrashing in Rijeka a month earlier, set up similarly under Slaven Bilić, with Dominik Livaković behind Ivan Smolčić, Josip Stanišić, Luka Vušković and Joško Gvardiol, and Mateo Kovačić captaining the midfield.
First half
Croatia started the brighter of the two sides on a chilly London evening, but England gradually took control. Elliot Anderson fired over from distance early on, while Alexander-Arnold went close after a Bellingham cross. The breakthrough arrived in the 24th minute. Kane dropped deep and delivered a raking diagonal pass to Bellingham at the far post. Bellingham’s first-time cross found Rogers, who volleyed the ball into the ground after Gvardiol failed to clear; it squirmed past Livaković for 1-0.Squawka
England continued to probe, with Burn a threat from set pieces and Gordon lively on the left, but Croatia remained organised. Kovačić tested Pickford from range, and the half ended with the hosts ahead but not yet in full flow — a far cry from the demolition in Rijeka. Half-time: England 1-0 Croatia.
Second half
England came out strongly. Rice and Rogers combined to set up Kane, only for Stanišić to produce a superb block. Bellingham was denied by Livaković, and Gordon shot wide. Then, just before the hour, Croatia equalised. From a corner, Quansah’s attempted header back to Pickford fell straight to Petar Sučić, who hooked the ball into the roof of the net from close range for
The lead lasted barely five minutes. From the next England corner, Quansah was dragged down by Smolčić. After a VAR review, referee Morten Krogh pointed to the spot and booked the Croatia defender. Kane stepped up in the 64th minute, calmly placing his penalty down the middle as Livaković dived the wrong way. It was his 92nd international goal and restored England’s advantage.
Croatia pushed for another equaliser. Modrić (introduced later) and others created half-chances, including a Nikola Vlašić effort that curled just wide and late headers from Ante Budimir and Vušković that failed to trouble Pickford. England thought they had a third when substitute James Garner finished from a Bellingham cut-back, but the flag went up for offside. Tuchel used the closing stages to rest key players ahead of the Spain fixture, bringing on Garner, Ben White and Rio Ngumoha.Squawka
Full-time: England 2-1 Croatia.
Key stats
- Possession: England 54% – Croatia 46%
- Shots: 14–15 total (4–5 on target)
- Expected goals: roughly 2.7 – 1.2 in England’s favour
- Corners: 6–7
- England extended their run of four consecutive Group A3 wins. Croatia, depleted by injuries and suspensions, showed improved resolve compared with the reverse fixture but ultimately fell short.Squawka
Looking ahead
The result confirms England’s quarter-final place. Spain lead the group, and the two sides meet on Sunday to decide who tops Group A3. For Kane, it was another chapter in an extraordinary international career; for Tuchel’s side, a professional if not always fluent night that got the job done at Wembley.
Match report compiled from official and media sources covering the fixture.
