Tuchel described that victory as a “freak result” and said England expected a strong response from Croatia at Wembley.

LONDON: England captain Harry Kane has described breaking the national team’s all-time appearance record as one of the biggest achievements of his career ahead of Thursday’s Nations League clash against Croatia.

Kane will earn his 126th international cap when he leads England out at Wembley, surpassing the previous record held by former goalkeeper Peter Shilton since 1990.

The milestone marks another significant achievement in an impressive 12 months for the Bayern Munich striker, who became the first English player in 25 years to win the Ballon d’Or in October.

The 33-year-old is already England’s all-time leading goalscorer with 91 goals and also holds Tottenham Hotspur’s scoring record with 280 strikes.

Since joining Bayern Munich from Tottenham in 2023, Kane has continued to elevate his performances, scoring 156 goals for the German club and winning the first major trophies of his career with Bundesliga titles in 2025 and 2026.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Kane said surpassing Shilton’s record would rank among his greatest career accomplishments.

“It’s definitely up there as the biggest (achievement),” he said.

“I think it showcases consistency at the highest level. Testament to all the dedication, the time people don’t see that keeps me fit and healthy. This is one of the biggest milestones in my career.”

Kane Targets 100 England Goals

Despite Kane’s individual success, England have not won a major men’s international trophy since lifting the World Cup on home soil in 1966.

The striker also suffered disappointment in July when England were defeated by Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals.

England had taken a 1-0 lead but conceded twice late in the match, ending Kane’s hopes of reaching his first World Cup final. Manager Thomas Tuchel also faced criticism over his defensive approach during the closing stages.

Looking ahead, Kane said he was not prepared to place limits on his ambitions and identified reaching 100 international goals as his next major target.

“In terms of what’s next, I don’t like to put limits — 100 goals (for England) is a milestone to reach as soon as possible,” he said.

“We’ve done extremely well in tournaments, going into latter stages. I’m feeling really good and hopefully there will be many more years to see what I can achieve.”

Tuchel Praises Kane Ahead of Historic Milestone

England manager Thomas Tuchel avoided making a definitive judgment when asked whether Kane was the country’s greatest footballer.

“I don’t know. He’s up there of course. It’s now proven. It’s always nice if things are proven in sports — he has his prizes and records, he will build on these records, score more goals and get more games,” Tuchel said.

Tuchel confirmed Kane would start against Croatia as captain, describing the occasion as a special moment for English football.

He also highlighted the opportunity to present Kane’s Ballon d’Or trophy to supporters on the same day he sets the new international appearance record.

England Prepare for Croatia and Spain Tests

England are almost certain to qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals in March, regardless of Thursday’s result, after thrashing Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka last month.

Tuchel described that victory as a “freak result” and said England expected a strong response from Croatia at Wembley.

“We expect a reaction from Croatia and we expect to overcome this mental challenge for us,” he said.

England will then face World Cup winners Spain in Sunday’s Group A3 finale in Madrid.

Tuchel said defenders Ezri Konsa and Djed Spence were expected to be available for the Spain fixture but would not be risked against Croatia.

“It’s my understanding at the moment that they will be both available, but we will not take the risk for tomorrow,” he added.