Harry Kane is once again one of the England national team’s greatest hopes at the World Cup. But the Three Lions captain of all people could receive special treatment at the tournament. Team boss Thomas Tuchel is apparently planning to take some of the pressure off his most important attacking player
When England kick off the World Cup in the coming days, expectations will once again rest on Harry Kane. The FC Bayern striker is not only the captain of the national team, but also the central attacking player in Thomas Tuchel’s system
It has long been no secret that the two get on very well, with Kane recently revealing that Tuchel played a decisive role in his move to FC Bayern. The two are considered to have a close and trusting working relationship – both in Munich and with the English national team
Kane already enjoys a great deal of freedom on the pitch, often dropping deep, participating in the build-up play and acting almost like an additional playmaker at times, just as he does at FC Bayern. However, the special role that Tuchel is now said to have planned for his goalscorer apparently relates primarily to stress management
Tuchel wants to protect his star striker
According to Sky reports, the England national team coach is planning to use Kane in a more measured manner at the start of the tournament due to the enormous strain the 32-year-old has had to cope with in recent months
Kane has had another long and intensive season at the highest level, while the demanding climatic conditions at the World Cup have demanded additional reserves of strength from many players
According to the broadcaster, Tuchel wants to avoid his most important attacking player reaching his physical limits at an early stage. The concern about overloading is quite understandable. The loss of the Bayern star would have a considerable impact on the Three Lions‘ title ambitions
Kane is now one of the most experienced players in the England squad, making it all the more important for Tuchel to get the attacker through the tournament as fresh as possible
Bayern should welcome the plans
England’s opening program could play into Tuchel’s hands. Although Croatia will be a challenging opponent right at the start of the World Cup, the Three Lions will then face Ghana and Panama
These games in particular could provide the opportunity to rest Kane, at least temporarily, or even give him a break. Should England successfully get through the group stage, a potentially long tournament awaits the team afterwards
From England’s point of view, it would therefore be understandable not to push their most important attacking player to the limit in the first few days of the tournament. A fit Kane could make all the difference in the decisive knockout matches
FC Bayern are also likely to be keeping a close eye on the situation, as they will be keen to ensure that the goalscorer returns from the tournament in good health. After a long season, a cautious approach to managing his workload would certainly be in the interests of the Munich management
The coming weeks will show whether Tuchel actually implements his plans, but one thing is already clear: Harry Kane remains the key player for the England national team – and that is precisely why he is apparently to be given special protection.