Kane’s late show gives Croats a taste of their own medicine

poked the ball past Lovre Kalinic and Lingard finished off.

Kane’s goal – his first in eight games – was proof his predatory instincts remain razor sharp, though credit must go to Chilwell for a delivery which spread panic in the Croat defence.

Four months ago, in the Luzhniki Stadium, England were ahead at the interval but didn’t create half as many chances as they did in the opening 45 minutes yesterday.

A combination of fine goalkeeping and poor finishing meant the two sides went in goalless, despite the Three Lions bossing the game.

If Fabian Delph was the outstanding individual in that opening period, it was the pace of Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford which were the chief weapons.

Sterling may have ended his goal drought with a wonderful double in Seville last month but he’s still not a natural finisher.

Set up by Kane’s superb 11th-minute pass he couldn’t lift the ball over the sprawling Kalinic, his shot cannoning off the keeper’s chest.

From the resulting corner Kane was off balance as John Stones’ flick-on reached him and from eight yards he missed the target.

Four minutes later the Croatia goalmouth was like a shooting range.

Kalinic came rushing out of his area to prevent Sterling latching on to Delph’s angled pass, flattening the England man in the process.

Kane followed up only for Tin Jedvaj to block his goalbound effort and the impressive Kalinic recovered brilliantly to save the striker’s next attempt.

Few goalkeepers deliver a better ball than Jordan Pickford and he found Rashford with one of his trademark punts only for the youngster to be denied magnificently by Sime Vrsaljko, who paid the price for his goal-saving challenge by limping out of the game minutes later.

Ross Barkley hit the side netting and Chilwell’s volley through a cluster of bodies was well taken by Kalinic.

But the warm applause which greeted the half-time whistle was tinged with unease that the pressure had gone unrewarded.

Those fears seemed well-founded when Kramaric fired Croatia ahead in the 57th minute, evading three England defenders before his shot ricocheted off Eric Dier beyond Pickford’s despairing dive.

Past Three Lions’ sides may have wilted – but not this one.

And Kane gave Croatia a taste of their own medicine with that late winner.