Thomas Tuchel isn’t worried about Harry Kane’s quiet game against Andorra. He thinks Kane will find his rhythm and highlights England’s many attacking options like Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Phil Foden and Morgan Rogers. Tuchel is watching to see who performs well and scores goals, confident England has plenty of firepower.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has dismissed any concerns regarding Harry Kane's recent form for the national team, despite a subdued performance against Andorra. Tuchel expressed confidence in Kane's ability to regain his rhythm and highlighted the numerous attacking options available to the Three Lions.
In Saturday's match at Villa Park, England secured a 2-0 victory over Andorra, marking their fourth consecutive win in Group K of the UEFA World Cup qualification campaign. However, the win was less than convincing, with an own goal from Christian Garcia and a second-half header from Declan Rice providing the goals in a game dominated by England's possession. Kane, the team's captain, had a quiet outing.
Despite England's overwhelming 82.8% possession, Kane's impact was minimal. He registered just 12 touches throughout the entire 90 minutes, the fewest of any England player. To further illustrate this, Morgan Gibbs-White, who came on as a substitute in the 78th minute, had more than twice as many touches (25) in his limited time on the pitch.
Even when compared to the opposition, Kane's statistics were underwhelming. His 12 touches were fewer than those of 10 of Andorra's 11 starting players, with only striker Cucu (11) having fewer. Andorra substitute Joel Guillen managed 17 touches after entering the game just before the hour mark. These stats underscored Kane's relative anonymity in the match, raising questions about his sharpness and involvement.
However, Tuchel was quick to defend his captain, pointing to Kane's impressive scoring record in the preceding matches. Before the Andorra game, Kane had scored in five consecutive appearances for England. Tuchel believes that Kane is simply in the process of finding his form at the beginning of the season, a sentiment he extends to all players.
"I think like always in the beginning of the season, for every player, you just try to find your rhythm and it's getting there," Tuchel said, looking ahead to Tuesday's match against Serbia. His comments suggest a belief that Kane's current form is temporary and that he will soon return to his prolific scoring ways.
Beyond Kane, Tuchel emphasized the wealth of attacking talent available to England. He mentioned several players who could potentially lead the line, providing the team with tactical flexibility and options to adapt to different opponents and game situations.
"We have a lot of options. We have Ollie, we have Harry, Marcus can play there, Jarrod Bowen can play there, Anthony Gordon played there for Newcastle," Tuchel stated. This highlights the depth in the England squad and the competition for places in the attacking positions.
Tuchel also noted the versatility of some players, suggesting that they can fill the number nine role effectively. "Phil Foden can play in the nine, Morgan Rogers can play in the nine," he added, indicating his willingness to experiment with different formations and player combinations.
Ultimately, Tuchel's message is one of confidence and optimism. He believes that England has enough firepower to succeed, regardless of individual form. He is keen to see which players will step up and seize their opportunities in the Premier League and other competitions.
"Let's see who catches form and catches fire in the Premier League or wherever and starts scoring. But yes, we have enough firepower there," Tuchel concluded. This proactive approach suggests that Tuchel will be closely monitoring his players' performances and making decisions based on current form and potential.
The highlights from yesterday’s 2-0 win for the #ThreeLions
The highlights from yesterday’s 2-0 win for the #ThreeLions
— England (@England) September 7, 2025