Thomas Tuchel has been warned that England have ‘no chance’ of winning the World Cup without ‘brilliant striker and brilliant captain’ Harry Kane.
Tuchel is aiming to end 60 years of hurt in the United States and guide England to their first World Cup trophy since 1966.
The German’s predecessor, Sir Gareth Southgate, took England to two European Championship finals and deep in two World Cups without ending the nation’s long wait for an international trophy in men’s football.
The Three Lions are among the favourites to triumph in the States but ex-Premier League striker Clinton Morrison says failure is inevitable without Kane.
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England’s record goalscorer enjoyed another brilliant season at Bayern Munich, scoring 61 goals in 51 games to emerge as one of the candidates to win the Ballon d’Or award.
‘Let me tell you something, if Harry Kane is not fit or not available, England have no chance of winning the World Cup,’ Morrison told Free Bets. ‘That is my honest opinion.
‘He’s had an outstanding season for Bayern Munich. Brilliant striker, brilliant captain, leads by example. He is the key to everything England want to do.
‘Keep him fit and England have a genuine chance of winning the World Cup. And if England do go on and win it with Kane leading from the front, you may as well write his name on the Ballon d’Or.’
Morrison believes England are capable of winning the World Cup despite being ‘surprised’ by several of Tuchel’s squad selections.
‘There are a few surprises in this squad,’ he added. ‘My biggest is Ivan Toney.
‘Not to say I don’t rate him, he’s a top player, but he’s barely been involved in any squads and now all of a sudden he’s going to the World Cup.
‘Going with three strikers, I’m not even sure you need three because Harry Kane plays every minute of every game. I understand the logic though, if England are chasing a game they need a different type of centre forward and Toney has been scoring goals. So I get it.
‘Harry Maguire not going, I can’t believe that. I probably would have taken him over Dan Burn.
‘Tournament experience, had a better season, a threat from set pieces. He’s not going to play but just to have that experience in the group, I definitely would have taken him.
‘Another big omission for me, the most ridiculous decision, is no Adam Wharton. That was unbelievable.
‘He’s had a great season. If you’re a centre forward in that England team, you want Adam Wharton finding passes into you. He always looks forward, he’s a great footballer.
‘That’s crazy from Thomas Tuchel. And Trent Alexander Arnold, I don’t know for the life of me how he’s not in the squad.
‘When you’re playing in that heat and you need someone to keep the ball and pick a pass, Trent should be there. There are other full backs in that England squad who are not as good as him. But he’s the manager, you’ve got to respect it.’
England are in World Cup Group L and kick-start their campaign against Croatia on Wednesday night before facing Ghana and Panama.
Argentina are the World Cup holders having beaten France in a tense penalty shootout in the final of the last tournament in 2022.
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