Harry Kane marks record 126th cap with England winner

Harry Kane celebrated his record 126th England appearance by scoring the winning penalty in a 2-1 victory over Croatia at Wembley on Thursday, November 12. The result sent Thomas Tuchel's side into the Nations League quarter-finals and took Kane's international tally to 92 goals, according to an AFP report published by the Bangkok Post.

For Thai fans who stayed up late or caught the highlights on Friday morning, it was a night that combined a personal milestone with an important team result.

How the match unfolded

Morgan Rogers gave England the lead in the first half. Croatia hit back on the hour mark when a mistake by Jarell Quansah allowed Petar Sucic to equalise.

The decisive moment came from a corner. Ivan Smolcic wrestled Quansah to the ground, and after a VAR review the referee awarded a penalty. Kane stepped up and converted it to restore England's lead, which they held until the final whistle.

Harry Kane's record night

The 126 caps make Kane England's most-capped player, and scoring the winner on such an occasion made the evening even more memorable. His penalty also lifted his England goal tally to 92.

Tuchel was clearly delighted. "Good win. We wanted this win desperately and I think we deserved it," he told ITV. He added that it had been important to get the job done because it was a special occasion for Harry, who scored the winner, calling it a "perfect evening".

Group A3 standings

The victory moved England to 12 points from five matches in Group A3, enough to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals next March.

Spain still top the group with 15 points after a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Prague, their fifth straight win in the competition. Alex Baena scored a penalty and Marc Pubill added a late goal, extending Spain's unbeaten run to 44 matches. The Czechs are still without a point and finished with 10 men after captain Ladislav Krejci was sent off.

That sets up a decider in Madrid on Sunday, when England face Spain to settle who wins the group.

Zidane's first defeat as France coach

Elsewhere, Zinedine Zidane suffered his first loss in charge of France as Italy came from behind to win 3-1 in Milan. France were missing Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele through injury.

Key moments from the game:

• Michael Olise put France ahead after 10 minutes, pouncing on a loose pass by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
• Francesco Pio Esposito equalised from Nicolo Cambiaghi's pass.
• France hit the post twice, through Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki.
• Sebastiano Esposito blazed a second-half penalty wide for Italy.
• Davide Frattesi put Roberto Mancini's side ahead from Federico Dimarco's cut-back.
• Francesco Pio Esposito scored a penalty, won by substitute Antonio Vergara, to make it 3-1.

Italy moved above France at the top of Group A1 on head-to-head record, with both teams on 10 points. Belgium are one point behind after beating Turkey 2-1 in Izmir, where Arda Guler's free-kick was cancelled out by goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Charles De Ketelaere. Belgium host Italy on Sunday, while France are at home to Turkey.

Why the Croatia win mattered

Croatia's equaliser had put England's progress in doubt, and Tuchel admitted his team wanted the result "desperately". Winning at home meant England no longer need anything from the final group game to reach the knockout stage, which takes some pressure off the trip to Spain.

What comes next

England's place in the last eight is secure, but Sunday's trip to Madrid will decide whether they finish first or second. Spain's long unbeaten run makes it one of the toughest tests Tuchel's side could face.

For Kane, the milestone adds to a career already full of records. Meanwhile, there has been plenty of change in Premier League dugouts, as covered in our reports on Mauricio Pochettino and Manchester United and Pierre Sage leaving Crystal Palace.

Image: Harry Kane playing for England against Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo by Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.