Harry Kane is still central to England's plan to conquer the 2026 World Cup. However, for the first time in many years, the role of backup options such as Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins is considered as important as the captain of the "Three Lions".
Since the 2018 World Cup, every major tournament of the England team has a familiar question: who is the best replacement for Kane? However, at the 2026 World Cup, the issue is no longer about substituting when necessary but about how to use Kane most effectively throughout the long journey in North America.
The Bayern Munich striker entered the tournament after the most played season in the last 3 years. Kane played more than 4,400 minutes in all competitions, making a great contribution to helping Bayern win the Bundesliga. That huge amount of movement forced the England coaching staff to consider rotating more.
Coach Thomas Tuchel understands this risk. At EURO 2024, Kane played in a condition that did not reach his best physical condition and had back problems in the final stage of the tournament. Although still playing, the 32-year-old striker no longer maintained his familiar explosiveness.
The 2026 World Cup poses even greater challenges when the number of participating teams increases to 48, leading to more matches. In addition, many matches of the England team take place in the afternoon in harsh temperatures and high humidity.
In that context, Tuchel is expected to manage Kane's fitness very closely. Scenarios such as withdrawing Kane early when England is leading or letting him rest in the last match of the group stage if the "Three Lions" soon qualify for the next round have all been calculated.
This means that the chances for Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins will be significantly greater. Watkins admits that all three strikers have their own roles in the squad and believes that they will contribute together to this World Cup campaign.
Toney and I are different types of strikers. A team that wants to succeed needs many attacking options and flexibility" - the Aston Villa striker shared.
For Tuchel, the goal is not simply to maximize Kane in the group stage but also to ensure that this striker always reaches his best form when entering the knockout matches. If they want to win the World Cup, the "Three Lions" will need Kane at the most decisive moment, instead of trying to use him every minute of the tournament.
Besides Kane, both Watkins and Toney are reaching their peak in their careers, possessing top-level playing experience and the ability to make a difference when given the opportunity. No longer completely dependent on one individual helps the "Three Lions" have more options to approach the match.
In a tournament lasting more than a month with a dense schedule, the depth of the force can become a decisive factor between success and failure. This is also the reason Tuchel is willing to rotate more to keep the key players always in the best condition.
Reviewing the matches and preparing for the gathering in Florida, I realized this is an extremely quality team. That immediately gave me absolute confidence that England is capable of reaching the final match.
The way the players reacted, including the stars who were crossed out this time, they still sent the best wishes, proving that we are a unified bloc and really eager to contribute" - Tuchel shared.
