England v Croatia: Harry Kane set to become Three Lions’ record appearance holder

England need only a point from their final two UEFA Nations League matches to reach the quarter-finals, but Thursday’s meeting with Croatia at Wembley will also give Harry Kane the chance to make history.

The Bayern Munich striker is expected to win his 126th cap, which would take him past Peter Shilton and make him England’s most-capped player. Kane returns to the national team with the Ballon d’Or, and the captain could mark the occasion by helping Thomas Tuchel’s side secure progress from Group 3 of League A.

Tuchel has overseen three successive victories in the competition. Croatia, managed by Slaven Bilic, have lost their past three matches, including a 7-0 defeat by England last month.

England began the campaign with a 3-2 loss to world champions Spain, before beating the Czech Republic twice and then recording their emphatic victory over Croatia. They are three points behind Spain and six clear of Croatia, while their goal difference of +11 is the best in the Nations League.

Tuchel’s side have scored 14 goals in four matches – the highest total across all four divisions – and conceded only three. They have also kept three consecutive clean sheets since allowing three goals against Spain in September.

England have scored in all but one of their Nations League matches at Wembley. Their only failure came in a 1-0 defeat by Denmark in 2020, and they have scored 20 goals in the seven games since.

Croatia reached the final of the 2022-23 Nations League, where they lost to Spain, but now face the possibility of losing their place in League A. They opened this campaign with victory over the Czech Republic but have taken none of the following nine points, losing twice to Spain and once to England.

To overtake England in second place, Croatia must win both remaining matches, hope England lose both, and overturn a seven-goal deficit against the Three Lions. Head-to-head results take precedence over overall goal difference if teams finish level on points. Croatia’s third-place position could lead to a promotion-relegation play-off, depending on how they rank among the third-placed League A teams.

Croatia’s 7-0 defeat in October was the heaviest in their senior men’s international history. England have now won four consecutive meetings between the sides. England’s Nations League form is DVVV, while their overall form is DVDVVV. Croatia’s corresponding records are VDDD and VDVDDD.

England will again be without Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer, who was left out after withdrawing from the September-October squad, and Manchester City defender Marc Guehi, who is injured. Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended after two bookings.

Croatia will be missing Ivan Perisic following his dismissal for two yellow cards against Spain. Bilic has also lost Josip Sutalo, Martin Erlic, Andrej Kramaric, Franjo Ivanovic and Kristijan Jakic to injury.

Luka Modric remains Croatia’s captain and is set to win his 207th cap at the age of 41. Josh King and Jobe Bellingham are the only England outfield players in the November squad yet to feature, although Tuchel is expected to prioritise qualification ahead of Sunday’s match against Spain.

Croatia have kept only one clean sheet in their past 14 matches in all competitions, making another heavy defeat possible in theory, although a repeat of England’s seven-goal win is unlikely.