It was an historic occasion for Harry Kane, the one when he made his 126th England appearance and overtook Peter Shilton as the nation’s most capped men’s player. And for much of the night, it felt as though the desire to celebrate him, certainly beforehand, was the main thing. The actual football in this Nations League tie felt like a sideshow.
England had demolished Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka last month; it was Croatia’s heaviest ever defeat. It was a different story here. England were casual, lacking cut and thrust and there was an overall flatness to the Wembley atmosphere. Croatia were never likely to be humbled again and they sensed redemption when Petar Sucic capitalised upon a defensive aberration from Jarell Quansah to equalise for 1-1 just before the hour.
It was at that point that Kane got a hold of the script. It was supposed to be his night during the 90 minutes, wasn’t it? There was a tussle on an England corner inside the Croatia area, Quansah feeling Ivan Smolcic tug at his shirt and when he went over, it always felt as though the video assistant would be interested. He was, deciding that it added up to a penalty – and not that Quansah went to ground too easily.
It was over to Kane from the spot. There was the familiar stutter and the conversion was clipped up the middle, narrowly avoiding the trailing leg of the goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic. It was Kane’s 92nd England goal; his 27th successful penalty conversion.
Croatia fought until the end and they had a clutch of late chances, none better than when Nikola Vlasic took a touch and shot just wide in the 82nd minute. England did enough. Thomas Tuchel wanted the points to ensure his team entered Sunday’s tie against Spain in Madrid with the chance to win and overhaul them for top spot in the group. He got his wish.
Kane had walked out for kick-off with his four children and there was a lot for him – and them – to take in before a ball was kicked. First of all, there was the giant tifo behind one of the goals, which acclaimed Kane as “England’s finest.” Then, after he had hoisted aloft his Ballon d’Or trophy, there were presentations from Shilton, Luka Modric and Prince William . The gifts they bore, respectively, were a small trinket, a replica of the first football brought to Croatia in 1880 and a commemorative, framed Kane shirt.
It was quickfire. Rarely has so much been handed out so swiftly. Somewhat inevitably, there was a hangover when the game got underway. Was the show not already over? The Wembley crowded slumbered. The noise came from the visiting Croatia supporters. Tuchel always wants intensity at the outset. It was not there.
There is history between these nations, taking in the major tournament showdowns and that one match here which prevented England from going to Euro 2008. The words ‘Wally’ and ‘Brolly’ take everybody straight back there. Croatia were tracked to Wembley by the trauma of the previous meeting; their hammering in Rijeka was described by Slaven Bilic as an “eternal shame.”
The Croatia manager saw England tear his back four to ribbons on that occasion. He went for the greater security of three centre-halves this time and there was no room for the 41-year-old Modric in the starting line-up. Was he being held back for the home tie against Czechia on Sunday?
Kane was involved in the breakthrough goal midway through the first half, receiving possession from Lewis Hall and floating a lovely diagonal out to Jude Bellingham on the right-hand side of the Croatia area. Bellingham volleyed over first-time and what followed was a personal disaster for Josko Gvardiol. He got his feet into a tangle and allowed the ball to get to Morgan Rogers, who reached back and slashed it down and in past Dominik Livakovic from close-range. The goalkeeper could not react in time.
Tuchel’s most eye-catching selection was to start Trent Alexander-Arnold over Ben White at right-back and the Real Madrid player got into advanced positions. He played some good balls. He wanted to quicken the collective pulse. As did Bellingham with those surges. It was all rather room temperature in the first-half; England in control but not an awful lot happening. It was easy to feel that Croatia were happy not to be overwhelmed.
Kane dropped deep. He wanted to spark England’s moves. He even took throw-ins. Rogers, who Tuchel played on the right wing, had the license to get into central attacking areas. Alexander-Arnold pushed high; sometimes as far as the centre-forward position. Rogers and Alexander-Arnold was an interesting combination.
Kane went close at the start of the second half, seeing a close-range shot blocked and Bellingham did not get hold of a drive after Anthony Gordon had tried to buy a penalty with an obvious dive.
England were sleepwalking. It felt as though complacency set in. Elliott Anderson played a couple of loose passes. Hall needed to win a one-versus-one against Igor Matanovic, conceding a corner. From it, England got their wake-up call. Gvardiol challenged for the high ball and when it broke, Jarell Quansah tried to head back for Jordan Pickford; a high-risk move. He simply did not see Petar Sucic, who stretched out a leg to prod home.
Enter Kane. The closing stages were notable for the booing of Ben White when he came on to replace Alexander-Arnold. And Croatia threatening a second equaliser. James Garner, on as a substitute, had the ball in the net only for Bellingham to be flagged for offside. England got the victory over the line.
