England manager Thomas Tuchel has insisted that his team's heavy reliance on star striker Harry Kane is "perfectly normal," despite a disappointing defeat to Japan at Wembley that exposed their struggles without the Bayern Munich forward.
Kane's Absence Highlights England's Goal-Scoring Void
Harry Kane was forced to watch from the stands due to a training injury, as England produced an underwhelming performance in a loss to Japan. For over a decade, Kane has dominated the England number nine role, with no clear backup emerging in his shadow.
His rare absence in this match starkly revealed the lack of attacking punch when he is not on the pitch, raising questions about the team's dependency on their record goalscorer.
Tuchel Cites Messi and Ronaldo as Precedents
Tuchel defended this reliance, pointing to other international teams that similarly build around key individuals. He told ITV: "Why would Argentina not rely on Messi or Portugal not rely on Cristiano Ronaldo? It is totally normal."
The German coach acknowledged that England "lacked a bit of punch in the final 20 metres" in both recent matches, attributing part of the issue to players being "way too narrow" in the first half against Japan.
False Nine Experiment Fails to Deliver
With Kane unavailable, Tuchel opted to deploy Phil Foden in a false nine position, supported by Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, and Anthony Gordon, rather than using a traditional striker like Dominic Solanke from the bench.
This tactical choice yielded limited success, as England managed only their first shot on target after the 70th minute. Tuchel downplayed the formation debate, stating: "It is not a question of false nine or normal nine, it is a matter of performing and making a statement."
Pressure and Performance Under Scrutiny
Tuchel also rejected suggestions that some players are struggling with the pressure of representing England, refusing to engage in that discussion. He emphasized the need for improvement, noting that Japan presented a "well drilled team" against a new English formation.
Despite the setback, Tuchel urged perspective, calling the loss "not the end of the world" and highlighting areas where the team can enhance their dynamism and bravery in future fixtures.
