LIVE – Updated at 20:25 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 | Live on ITV1Harry Kane breaks England appearance record after winning Ballon d'OrEngland need just a draw to book their place in the Nations League quarter-finals25' GOAL!
Rogers scrambles in Bellingham's ball across [ENG 1-0 CRO]England 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 England 1-0 Croatia, 39 mins 20:25 , Luke Baker England hunting the ball higher up the pitch, they do win it back and
Bellingham forces a pass through to Kane but he’s swarmed by Croatian defenders.England in control of this match now but they’d love a second goal before half-time.
England 1-0 Croatia, 35 mins 20:22 , Luke Baker Vuskovic gives the ball away cheaply to Bellingham in his own half and the Real Madrid man starts a move that ends with him shooting from inside the box but it’s blocked WATCH: Rogers puts England in front against Croatia 20:21 , Luke Baker Here’s that Morgan Rogers goal, with Harry Kane pivotal in the build-up 'Of course Kane was at the heart of the goal' 20:20 ,
Lawrence Ostlere at Wembley Thoughts on the goal from Chief Sports Writer Lawrence Ostlere at WembleyThat England goal was a nice settler after a pretty messy opening 20 minutes or so, full of sloppy errors and disjointed play.
The goal wasn’t much prettier but of course Kane was at its heart, with a lovely cross-field pass to breach Croatia’s defence. That might open the game up a little. England 1-0 Croatia, 30 mins 20:17 , Luke Baker England really on top now.
Hall fires a shot in the area that a sliding Vlasic does well to block for a corner.Burn powers a header from the corner but it’s blocked by a defender before another ball in towards Burn causes mayhem but a scrambling Croatia survive. England 1-0 Croatia, 27 mins 20:16 , Luke Baker Morgan Rogers delighted to put England in front at Wembley GOAL!
England 1-0 Croatia (Morgan Rogers, 25 mins) 20:13 , Luke Baker England have the opening goal!
They haven’t sparked into life so far but get on the scoresheet.Gorgeous floated pass from Kane to Bellingham at the byline, his first-time sidefooted volley back across goes through two Croatian defenders, it’s slightly behind Morgan Rogers but he manages to get his foot round it, kick his shots into the gorund and it bounces into the corner, beyond Livakovic.A mixture of scrappy and top quality but they all count!
England 0-0 Croatia, 23 mins 20:09 , Luke Baker Croatia probe through Gvardiol and Vlasic down the left before Misic takes aim from distance but his effort is harmlessly wide England 0-0 Croatia, 19 mins 20:07 , Luke Baker England getting on top now. Rogers’ cross from the right is only cleared to Alexander-Arnold who lashes a powerful shot that is well blocked.Rogers then again to the byline and wins a corner.
Rice takes it but Matanovic heads away and then Rogers’ attempted ball back in after Alexander-Arnold’s nice chip through is blocked superbly by a sliding Croat defender. England 0-0 Croatia, 15 mins 20:04 , Luke Baker Best moments of the match so far from England as they come forward with purpose. There’s some snap, movement and
Source: The Independent via MSN
