Thomas Tuchel has acknowledged England’s reliance on Harry Kane, admitting it is only natural for teams to depend on world-class players after their narrow defeat to Japan.
England went into the clash without their captain, who was rested as a precaution following a minor injury in training.
In his absence, Phil Foden was deployed as a false nine, while attacking options such as Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were limited in involvement.
As the game unfolded, England struggled to find a cutting edge in the final third, eventually slipping to a 1-0 loss.
The lack of a focal point in attack highlighted just how influential Kane remains to the team’s structure and overall threat.
“In the absence, we don’t have the same threat? Bayern Munich do not and no team in the world would. It is normal. Teams rely on top players so it is normal,” said Tuchel when asked about an over-reliance on Kane.
Beyond Kane’s absence, Tuchel also pointed to the missing core of key players, which further disrupted the team’s rhythm and balance on the pitch.
“Harry dropped out so we lost him not just as a player but as a personality. We lost Bukayo [Saka], Noni [Madueke], Declan Rice and John Stones. They are the core and drive of this group.
“It affected us, this is normal. We can win without Harry, we will win without Harry and we have. It is just easier [with him].”
Despite the setback, Tuchel remains confident in England’s depth and ability to bounce back.
However, the match served as a timely reminder that even the strongest squads feel the impact when their biggest stars are sidelined.
As England regroups for upcoming fixtures, the focus will shift to restoring key players and rediscovering their attacking rhythm: with or without their talisman leading the line.
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