Harry Kane scored from the penalty spot as England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday, a result that sets up a straight shoot-out with Spain for top spot in Nations League Group C. The Bayern Munich striker was the focus of an evening dedicated to his record-breaking achievement, yet the match also exposed familiar defensive frailties for head coach Thomas Tuchel.
Kane's Record Night
Kane was honoured before kick-off after surpassing Peter Shilton's record to become England's most-capped men's player. He added that accolade to his all-time goalscoring record for the Three Lions. Luka Modric, named among Croatia's substitutes, handed Kane a commemorative football to mark the occasion.
Morgan Rogers opened the scoring for England, poking the ball past Dominik Livakovic. Croatia levelled when Jarell Quansah's soft header allowed Petar Sucic to turn the ball past Jordan Pickford. The visitors were level for only five minutes before England were awarded a penalty.
Defensive Concerns Persist
Kane stepped up and lashed the ball into the net, his second goal of the night after the earlier spot-kick. James Garner thought he had added a third four minutes from time, but his celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.
England are battling an injury crisis at the back, and their makeshift defence looked shaky, with Croatia unlucky to only find the net once. Tuchel has built his career around defensive stability, but that solidity has been difficult to replicate with England. Even his most famous night in charge, at the Azteca, had moments that felt more like desperation than control.
Tougher tests await England, who now face Spain in Madrid on Sunday in a match that will decide the top spot in Nations League Group C.
