World Cup 2026: Who will Thomas Tuchel pick in England team against Croatia?

Kane’s status as captain, talisman and main marksman is demonstrated quite simply by his all-time record 79 goals in 114 England appearances.

But still, at 32, he continues to add strings to his bow in ways that have made him a complete actor.

There was further evidence in Orlando that Tuchel effectively gave Kane a roving commission to link up, create and score; It performs all tasks perfectly.

In the first half, Kane was seen receiving the ball in England’s own penalty area, playing from the back and connecting with defenders comfortably.

And as half-time approached he unleashed a stunning pass with the inside of his right foot from a deep position, sending four Costa Rican defenders out to find Anthony Gordon, who thought he had won a penalty after the decision was overturned following a video assistant referee review.

Tuchel’s willingness to let Kane roam freely, as he did at Bayern Munich, adds an intriguing layer to the German’s strategy.

It’s clear that Kane has a natural game intelligence that former England striker Chris Sutton described as “uncoachable”; He not only creates but also comes with perfect timing in attacking positions.

Kane’s passing range and vision allow him to find runners like Gordon or Saka, as well as runners like Bellingham and Rogers who make their trademark lifts.

If they go deep in the World Cup and have to unlock superior opposition, that could give Tuchel and England an X-factor.

With him so central to his plans, it’s no wonder Tuchel is reluctant to leave Kane out even for a friendly.