LONDON/SPLIT, OCT 7 (IANS): Harry Kane scored twice on his record-equalling 125th cap as England swept past Czechia to take a huge step towards qualification for the summer’s Nations League Finals.
Kane has reached 125 England caps in the space of just 11 years and 193 days, 8 years and 31 days quicker than it took Shilton (19 years, 224 days). He scored twice – the 90th and 91st goals of his international career – and forced Vladimir Coufal to steer the ball into his own net as Tuchel’s men ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Wembley Stadium.
The Three Lions captain became the second-oldest player to score two goals in a game for England at Wembley (33 years, 70 days), behind Ian Wright in September 1997 vs Moldova (33 years, 311 days). He is the oldest player in England’s history to score a brace in consecutive appearances (33 years and 70 days tonight).
Moreover, Kane’s 13 goals in 2026 are now the second-most any England player has scored in one year, behind the 16 scored by Kane in 2021.
After visiting goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek tipped away Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick, Kane set up the opener when the striker’s cross was turned in by Czechia defender Vladimir Coufal.
Kane then fired in from Morgan Rogers’ cross before the break, shot against the crossbar during the second half and headed in Lewis Hall’s corner to become the current edition’s top scorer with six goals.
Czech defender Vladimir Coufal’s own goal broke the deadlock, before Kane’s close-range double sealed England’s victory and almost mathematically guaranteed their passage through League A Group C to next summer’s finals.
The match was Thomas Tuchel’s 20th win as England manager in just his 26th game, the fastest any England manager has reached 20 wins; Tuchel has broken the record held by Walter Winterbottom (27 between 1946 and 1950).
Merino scores twice to send Spain into Nations League quarterfinal
Mikel Merino scored twice in the second half as world champion Spain fought back from a goal down to beat Croatia 2-1. The win extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 42 matches and secured its place in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals with four wins from four group games.
Merino provided the goals, while goalkeeper Unai Simon made several crucial saves to keep Spain in the contest.
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, responding to his team’s humiliating 7-0 defeat to England on Saturday, said he wanted a “game for men” and got the physical response he sought in a robust first half, reports Xinhua.
Although Spain, with Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Rodri in the starting lineup, enjoyed more possession in the opening period, the team was frequently uncomfortable.
Simon made an acrobatic stop to deny Josip Stanisic and later blocked Igor Matanovic after a counterattack, only for Ivan Perisic to follow up and score from the rebound in the 20th minute.
Simon made another point-blank save to deny Matanovic shortly afterward before getting down quickly to smother an effort from Josko Gvardiol.
Mikel Oyarzabal wasted Spain’s best first-half opportunity with a tame header from Aymeric Laporte’s cross, while Yamal dragged a shot into the side netting.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente replaced Alex Baena with Merino at halftime, and the substitution paid off. Merino equalized in the 60th minute after a clever pass from Dani Olmo, with Dominik Livakovic having earlier denied Yamal.
Simon produced another fine stop in the 78th minute after an error by Martin Zubimendi, who had replaced Rodri, presented Perisic with a chance. Perisic was sent off a minute later after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless challenge from behind on Marc Cucurella.
Merino sealed the win in the 88th minute, collecting a pass from Zubimendi before turning and firing into the top corner to confirm Spain’s place in the quarterfinals.