Harry Kane eyes 126th England cap as Tuchel’s side face Croatia
England will return to Nations League action against Croatia on November 12, with Harry Kane targeting his 126th cap after extending his national-record goals haul to 91.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have scored 12 unanswered goals across their past three matches, beating Czechia twice and overwhelming Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka. A place in the Nations League quarter-finals is close, but a meeting with Spain at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium will offer a far tougher measure of England’s progress.
Mills questions England’s tournament credentials
Former England defender Danny Mills believes Tuchel’s team should not be judged too harshly on their recent scorelines, arguing that major-tournament football will expose any weaknesses in the side’s defensive balance.
England finished third at the World Cup in North America during the summer, their strongest placing since 1966, but their semi-final loss to Lionel Messi’s Argentina prompted scrutiny of Tuchel’s decisions. England had scored first before losing, with criticism centred on the head coach’s use of extra defenders rather than a more attacking approach.
Mills, who played 19 times for England and appeared at the 2002 World Cup, said Reece James remains the stronger all-round right-back despite Trent Alexander-Arnold returning to the international picture.
“At the highest level, in quarter-finals and semi-finals, defending matters,” Mills said. “A defender must be capable of handling one-on-one situations.
“You can have six defenders against four forwards and still lose. Adding more defenders does not solve it; players have to defend individually.”
- Mills said England were expected to beat Czechia and questioned the strength of Croatia’s ageing squad.
- He felt Spain created enough chances at Wembley to have won far more comfortably, despite England reaching half-time only 2-1 behind.
- England were beaten by the world champions Spain after a match in which Mills believes defensive issues remained evident.
- He warned that routine qualification results will mean little unless England deliver a trophy at Euro 2028, which will be staged across the British Isles.
What comes next
Kane, still in contention for the Ballon d’Or, is expected to lead England again against Croatia on November 12. Tuchel will then face a significant tactical examination when the Three Lions travel to Spain, with the Nations League knockout stage looming.
Mills believes the decisive judgement on Tuchel will come in tournament football, not qualification or group-stage form. “You can win every match 6-0 before the Euros,” he said, “but if you do not win the final, what was the point?”
