England 2-1 Croatia: Harry Kane with the winner to cap special night

England captain Harry Kane marked his record-breaking 126th cap with a 92nd international goal as the skipper’s spot-kick sealed a 2-1 win over Croatia and set up a Nations League shootout in Spain.

The irrepressible 33-year-old enjoyed a night to remember at a sold-out Wembley, where the Bayern Munich sharpshooter’s Ballon d’Or triumph was celebrated along with his landmark appearance.

Kane became the most capped Englishman in history, having last month equalled the record held by Peter Shilton, who was on hand to make a pre-match presentation to the star along with the Prince of Wales.

The striker looked like he would be denied a customary goal on this special night as Croatia defended diligently before capitalising on a second-half error to cancel out Morgan Rogers’ opener.

Petar Sucic pounced on a poor Jarell Quansah header, but the England defender quickly won a penalty that Kane slammed home as the nation’s all-time scorer netted in a fifth successive game.

Thomas Tuchel’s men had already effectively secured qualification for March’s Nations League quarter-finals before this match, but Thursday’s victory rubberstamped it and kept hopes alive of winning Group A3 heading into Sunday’s trip to leaders Spain.

This was far less memorable than England’s 7-0 win in Croatia 40 days earlier and felt a bit like a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show given the pre-match presentation to Kane.

Slaven Bilic’s side were restricted to long-range efforts in a forgettable first half that took 16 minutes for the hosts to muster a shot through Elliot Anderson.

Trent Alexander-Arnold saw a drive blocked and Luka Vuskovic prevented Kane meeting a cutback from Rogers, who soon converted one provided by Jude Bellingham.

Kane clipped a diagonal pass over to the Real Madrid star, whose first-time ball bobbled through for the stretching attacking midfielder to strike into the ground and past Dominik Livakovic.

England failed to kick on after taking a 24th-minute lead and the crowd thinned, with half-time refreshments proving more appealing than the performance. The absence of added time spoke volumes.

Kane was stopped from scoring England’s second of the night six minutes into the second half as Josip Stanisic got in the way of a low Declan Rice ball.

Bellingham saw an attempt denied and Anthony Gordon tried his luck before England gifted Croatia a way back.

Josko Gvardiol was there to help bundle on a corner that Quansah attempted to nod back to Joran Pickford, only for Sucic to capitalise on the weak header and slam home in the 59th minute.

It was a costly defensive mistake, but the England centre-back soon benefitted from one at the other end after Ivan Smolcic wrestled him to the ground at a corner.

Referee Morten Krogh was sent to the monitor and awarded a penalty that Kane thumped home in the 64th minute.

Sucic was denied another leveller as Croatia looked to respond, with both sides making changes to alter the dynamics.

Ben White was among those introduced and booed by some of the England faithful. Croatia veteran Luka Modric received a far warmer reception.

Nikola Vlasic went close as the visitors pushed and Quansah blocked an Ante Budimir shot after James Garner was denied a first England goal by an offside in the build-up.

Budimir went close in stoppage time, but England held out as attention turns to Madrid.