Caretaker manager Lee Carsley's surprise decision during England's UEFA Nations League clash with Greece has been controversial. Instead of starting Harry Kane, Carsley gave Ollie Watkins a chance. The Aston Villa striker lived up to expectations, scoring the opening goal before being replaced by Kane in the second half.
In the next match against Ireland, Harry Kane was returned to the starting lineup and scored 1 goal. However, the 31-year-old striker's performance was quite lackluster despite playing the full 90 minutes.
Carsley had previously explained that his decision to bench Kane against Greece was to give other players a chance, not because of the England captain's form. However, Carsley's decision, along with Kane's unconvincing performance against Ireland, has raised questions about whether he is still the best option for centre-forward.
There is no denying that Harry Kane is still one of the top strikers in world football at the moment. His impressive scoring record of 68 goals for the Three Lions and 61 goals in 61 matches for Bayern is clear evidence. However, Kane's turning 31 is a concern for the top striker position in the Three Lions' attack.
One lesson to be learned from Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal career is that a team’s over-reliance on a veteran star can lead to tactics becoming monotonous and lacking in flexibility. England, however, have not yet fallen into that situation with Kane. From Gareth Southgate to Carsley, they have shown that the 1993-born centre-forward can be replaced in the right circumstances without losing the team’s overall tactical strength.
Watkins’s performance against Greece showed that the Three Lions have other options for the centre-forward position. The Villa star brings a different style of play, with his pace, intelligent movement and ability to exploit spaces in behind the opposition defence, making him the perfect choice for games where England need to play quick counter-attacks.
Watkins is Aston Villa's version of Jhon Duran - a supporting player who excels in the late stages of a game. His role can be compared to Kane's. It's not a complete replacement, it's a flexible addition depending on the game.
In addition, Jude Bellingham has also emerged as a new option for the “number 9” position in the England team. With his ability to move without the ball, outstanding strength and acumen in occupying space, the Real Madrid star has repeatedly shown his goalscoring qualities as a true striker.
Bellingham has the ability to deceive defences with his subtle runs and constantly create space, but moving him from central midfield to the front of the attack would be a risky move, as it could reduce the 21-year-old’s influence in other areas of the pitch.
However, while Watkins and Bellingham can bring new tactical options, Kane remains England's go-to option for most games. Not only is he a top scorer, Kane also plays a vital role in the build-up to attacks, something that not all strikers can do.
Therefore, Harry Kane's being benched for a few matches is simply a test of the squad, rather than being seen as the "end" of his time in the England team. The 31-year-old striker is not just a symbol of the past, he is still the present and possibly the near future of English football.
