LIVE – Updated at 19:05 England can book their place in the Nations League knockout rounds when they host Croatia tonight on a historic evening for captain Harry Kane. Kane, fresh off winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or, will break Peter Shilton’s long-standing record for most England men’s appearances when he takes to the pitch at Wembley for tonight’s clash.
Shilton featured 125 times for England and Kane will move clear of the former goalkeeper while also presenting the Ballon d’Or award to the assembled crowd.But the accolades will not take focus away from the pitch as England only need a draw with Croatia in order to guarantee themselves a place in the next stage of the competition, while victory would set up a mouth-watering clash with Spain on Sunday to determine
which team will top Group A3.
England currently sit second in the table and come into the match having beaten Croatia 7-0 away from home during the last international break. Thomas Tuchel has decisions to make over selection but could choose to play both Jude and Jobe Bellingham after the latter received his first senior call up for this camp.
Follow all the action from Wembley with our live blog below: England v Croatia live England host Croatia in the Nations League | Kick off at 7.45pm, live on ITV1Harry Kane will break England appearance record after winning Ballon d'OrEngland need just a draw to book their place in the Nations League quarter-finalsEngland XI: Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Burn, Hall; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon;
KaneLuka Modric benched - Croatia XI: Livakovic; Stanisic, Vuskovic, Smolcic, Gvardiol; Misic, Kovacic; Vlasic, Sucic, Baturina; Matanovic 'A big night for Trent Alexander-Arnold' 19:05 , Lawrence Ostlere at Wembley Our Chief Sports Writer Lawrence Ostlere is on the ground for us at Wembley this evening.Here’s his thoughts on the team line-up:The story will be all about Harry Kane tonight, of course.
But it also feels like a big night for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is given a rare start by Thomas Tuchel. It is perhaps down to Djed Spence’s injury that Alexander-Arnold comes in, but he has an opportunity to hold down the place before the team travels to his new home city of Madrid next week to face Spain.
Tuchel also fields an unexpected, and perhaps underwhelming, centre-half partnership of Jarell Quansah and Dan Burn, but based on England’s 7-0 win in Rijeka last month, they may not have much to do. Croatia team news: Modric on the bench 18:56 , Luke Baker A couple of notable names benched for Croatia this evening - most eye-catchingly Luka Modric, with Mateo Kovacic captaining the side in his absence.
Mario Pasalic, Duje Caleta-Car and Ante Budimir are also only among the subs.Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic leads the line instead of Budimir with Brighton star Luka Vuskovic and Como’s Ivan Smolcic as the centre-back duo.Josip Misic looks set to be in the engine room with Kovacic as Real Sociedad’s Luka Sucic will try to be Croatia’s creative presence alongside Nikola Vlasic and Martin Baturina.Croatia XI:
Livakovic; Stanisic, Vuskovic, Smolcic, Gvardiol; Misic, Kovacic; Vlasic, Sucic, Baturina; Matanovic Harry Kane breaks England appearance record and will have Ballon d’Or win celebrated 18:48 , Luke Baker Harry Kane will break Peter Shilton’s appearance record for the England men’s team after being named in the starting line-up to face Croatia in the Nations League at Wembley this evening.Thomas Tuchel had already
confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday that his captain Kane would start the match and that was rubber-stamped when the teams were released an hour and 15 minutes before kick-off.It will be the 33-year-old’s first game for his country since winning the Ballon d’Or last month and will be his record 126th England cap, meaning he surpasses Shilton atop the list.
Harry Kane breaks England appearance record and will have Ballon d’Or win celebrated England team news: Burn and Alexander-Arnold start in new-look defence 18:42 , Luke Baker Aside from the big news about Harry Kane, there are a couple of other interesting nuggets to pull out of the England line-up.It’s a real new-look defence after injuries have hit, with Dan Burn and Jerell Quansah seemingly forming the centre-back
tandem, with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back and Lewis Hall at left-back.Jordan Pickford has got the nod over James Trafford in goal, while the midfield and attack is more or less as expected.
Declan
Source: The Independent via MSN
