Harry Kane dependence, better pressing and the No 10 role, we examine the key issues England and Thomas Tuchel must solve ahead of the 2026 World Cup
Thomas Tuchel’s England have time on their side, but not much of it. The victory over New Zealand in Tampa served its purpose as a warm-weather training exercise and fitness test, yet it also highlighted several unresolved questions before the opening World Cup match against Croatia.
England remain one of the tournament favourites. They possess elite talent across the pitch and a manager with a clear tactical identity. Even so, the performance against modest opposition exposed areas that stronger teams will target.
England remain dependent on Harry Kane
The most obvious issue is also the hardest to solve. England continue to rely heavily on Harry Kane for goals, creativity and leadership. Against New Zealand, they dominated possession but struggled to convert territory into chances. It was Kane who ultimately broke the deadlock with a superb header, extending an extraordinary scoring record that shows little sign of slowing.
The concern is what happens without him. England looked blunt during the March internationals when Kane was unavailable. Few players in the squad replicate his unique combination of finishing, link-up play and ability to dictate attacks from deeper positions. Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins are accomplished forwards, but neither offers the same all-round influence. Every serious World Cup contender needs star players, especially a Ballon d’Or contender like Kane. England’s problem is that it feels like the Lego Death Star will crumble if the Bayern Munich striker is taken out.
The attack lacks enough creativity against deep defences
New Zealand defended in numbers and England struggled to break them down consistently. There was plenty of possession, plenty of crosses and plenty of shots from distance. But the incision was clearly missing. Tuchel himself criticised aspects of the team’s positional play and felt too many attacks ended with speculative attempts.
This has been a recurring issue for England. The Three Lions have often looked comfortable when opponents leave space in transition, but they look less convincing when faced with organised low blocks. The arrival of Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke should help, but Tuchel still needs greater fluency in the final third. The best international sides create chances through structure as much as individual talent. Take Spain as an example. England are not fully there yet.
The No 10 role remains unresolved
One of the most significant selection decisions in the squad concerns the player behind Kane. Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers are available and talented but offer very different qualities. Rogers brings direct running, carries the ball powerfully and can stretch opponents by drifting wide. Bellingham provides more control in midfield, greater defensive intensity, and a stronger all-round presence.
The contrast was visible against New Zealand. Rogers struggled to influence the game consistently during the first half, while Bellingham increased the tempo after coming on. Tuchel clearly needs to sort out which profile of player best complements Kane, Declan Rice and England’s midfield and attack. Essentially he must decide whether he wants an extra midfielder or an additional attacker.
The balance on the left wing is still unclear
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon present another tactical dilemma for Tuchel. Rashford looked sharper against New Zealand. His direct running caused problems, he created chances and his movement beyond the striker naturally complements Kane’s tendency to drop deep. Gordon offers something different. He presses aggressively, covers huge distances and fits naturally into the high-intensity game Tuchel wants without possession.
Both options are interesting but the manager faces the dilemma of determining which one is right for which opponent. Against elite teams, Gordon’s work rate may be invaluable. Against defensive opponents, Rashford’s attacking threat could prove decisive. Tuchel must establish a hierarchy quickly.
Midfield combinations still need clarity
Declan Rice remains the key player in England’s midfield, a Premier League champion and Champions League finalist. But the supporting cast is not fully settled. Kobbie Mainoo and Jordan Henderson struggled to control proceedings as effectively as England should have liked. By contrast, Elliot Anderson and Nico O’Reilly came on and provided greater balance and composure.
Tuchel clearly values versatility. His experiment with O’Reilly shows that, and his flexibility could become a major asset during the tournament. But England need a settled partnership capable of controlling matches against stronger opposition than New Zealand.
Defence is a concern
England’s performance at the back was unconvincing despite the cleansheet. New Zealand created little but they still found opportunities to break through England’s shape during the first half. The Three Lions can’t afford to give away that sort of space against the elite teams in the difficult knockout rounds. John Stones is loved by Tuchel and it is not hard to see why, but his lack of recent football was evident at times. The defender has endured an injury-disrupted season and looked short of rhythm and pace. These are the kinds of spaces that a player like Luka Modric can exploit for Croatia in Dallas, to say nothing of the knockout rounds. Tuchel needs his back line functioning at full capacity. If Stones is not ready, then it must be someone else.
England need better pressing
One of Tuchel’s biggest frustrations after the match concerned England’s work without the ball. The German has repeatedly emphasised pressing, counter-pressing and positional discipline. Against New Zealand, he felt his players drifted away from those principles too often and it was evident during the game. The first-half display in particular lacked intensity. England have enough technical quality to dominate weaker opponents, so the real test will come against sides capable of matching them on the ball. They need that cohesive pressing structure that Tuchel is trying to instil or they will be easy enough to play through when it matters.
