England’s World Cup Hopes Rest on Harry Kane’s Longevity
As the World Cup approaches, England’s hopes of success rest heavily on the shoulders of captain Harry Kane. The striker, who will be 29 years old during the tournament, has shown no signs of slowing down, scoring 82 goals in two seasons for Bayern Munich since Thomas Tuchel paid €100m for him. However, Tuchel is aware that Kane’s longevity in the sport will be crucial to England’s chances.
According to The Independent, Tuchel believes that Kane’s ability to keep playing at a high level will be key to England’s success. “I think it gets more and more difficult nowadays,” Tuchel said. “Cristiano took a step into a not-as competitive a league as [the] Premier League or Spain as part of keeping his performance up. I think he is always the exception to the rule.”
Kane has expressed his desire to play into his forties, admiring Cristiano Ronaldo’s longevity in the sport. Ronaldo, who is 40 years old, has scored in both the Nations League semi-final and final in the last week. However, Tuchel is cautious, stating that Ronaldo is an anomaly and that it’s unlikely that many players can follow in his footsteps.
Tuchel also discussed Cole Palmer, who started against Andorra but has struggled to make an impact for Chelsea lately. Palmer has only scored one goal in his last 23 games, and Tuchel believes that he needs to find a way to get him more involved in the game. “If we want to have players in, and we don’t have enough No 10 positions, we could have Cole play on the wing and play then more inside,” Tuchel said.
The Independent reports that Tuchel is working to find the right balance and connections between players, stating that “it’s on us, it’s on me to find the right balance, to find the right connections, like who loves to play with each other, who has a genuine connection, who takes care of each other.” Tuchel also believes that part of the issue is tactical, part mental, and that the team needs to improve in terms of fluidity and excitement.
Bukayo Saka is set to feature for the first time in his reign against Senegal, which could provide a boost to the team. However, Tuchel is aware that the England shirt can hang heavy on players, and that it’s not as simple as liberating footballers with one word. “It’s difficult to prescribe freedom, to play with freedom and suddenly everyone plays with freedom,” Tuchel said.
As The Independent notes, Tuchel’s reign has brought six goals so far, with one from an attacking midfielder, two from defenders, and three from Kane. A reliance on the captain is nothing new, with Kane having 72 international goals, while the rest of the squad has 40 between them. It remains to be seen whether Kane can show the staying power of Ronaldo and lead England to success in the World Cup.
Tuchel’s approach and strategies will be crucial in England’s upcoming game against Senegal. As reported by The Independent, the game will likely see the return of Bukayo Saka, who has been out of the squad due to injury. With Kane’s form and Tuchel’s tactics, England will look to make a strong impression in the World Cup.
The upcoming World Cup will be a crucial test for Tuchel and the England team. As The Independent reports, Tuchel believes that he is ‘very impatient’ when it comes to seeing England improve. With the right strategy and team dynamic, Tuchel is confident that England can make a deep run in the tournament.
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