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England have three strikers at this World Cup, and Harry Kane has never had a more important role as a substitute.
In the heat of the World Cup, the question on everyone’s mind is how many minutes England’s captain will be able to play.
Ever since Russia eight years ago, talk of the traditional tournament has always revolved around Kane’s best understudy.
But the talk around the camp is different this time, with Evan Toney and Ollie Watkin expected to get more game time than in previous tournaments.
Why? Kane is 32, the heat and humidity are going to be crippling at times, and quite frankly, England can only win the World Cup if Kane is fit and firing in the latter stages of this competition.
Furthermore, Kane has played more football this season than at any time in the last three years.
In his final season at Tottenham, he played a total of 3,934 minutes.
This time helping Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title, he had 4,423 – almost a thousand more than he played in his first season in Germany.
Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford shirts seen inside the England dressing room
Watkins told me he’s confident all three forwards will get their moment to shine in the North American sun.
“Everyone’s got a part to play in this competition,” said the newly-crowned Europa League champions. “Whether it’s early stages, later stages – you just have to be ready at the end of the day.
“We are all working together as a team to achieve something special.”
By the end of Euro 2024, Kane was absolutely exhausted. Although he was stubborn, that wasn’t the case, the truth was he limped through the tournament, nursing a back problem and sitting in the stands in the quarters and semi-finals, I wondered why Ken was walking around the pitch.
When the match cameras were focused on the game, off the ball, Kane really suffered. Tuchel is determined that this cannot happen again to his talisman and leading goalscorer.
Remember, this is also a newly-expanded tournament, with 48 countries and an additional knock-out round on the way to the finals.
And the FA is expecting any game starting before 5pm local time to see temperatures of 30C and above. England’s two group games will start at 4pm, the other at 5pm.
All of this coming together means Tuchel plans to wrap Kane in cotton wool – or rather, icy towels – as much as possible.
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Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett gives the latest from the England camp ahead of the 2026 World Cup
The England boss has already referred to some of his players as “finishers” in the past – options coming off the bench to offer something different up front, such as Noni Maduike and Eberechi Eze, or used as late substitutes to stifle England’s winning streak.
Watkins thinks England’s attacking options are nicely varied.
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Ollie Watkins says he and Ivan Toney will provide options up front for England at the World Cup
“Me and Ivan are different players and you need that. You have to have versatility,” he continued.
“Ivan is a proven goalscorer, he’s shown that throughout his career and even at the last Euros there were times when the team needed him, and then I had my moment in the semi-final (winner against the Netherlands).”
And so it will be up to Tony and Watkins to do the hard yards for their country in this World Cup.
Why should anyone risk taking on Panama in the last Group L game, for example, if England have already qualified for the knockout stages?
Does he need to be whipped in the heat if England are 3-0 up against Ghana in the second match? All ifs and buts, of course, but those are plausible scenarios for which Tuchel and his support staff are preparing.
Although Ken is desperate to play every minute of every game for his country, it’s not happening. Expectations to see the captain stay cool and warm the bench are higher than ever.
