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.
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