Harry Kane will miss England’s friendly against Wales at Wembley on Thursday as he continues to recover from a minor injury picked up while playing for Bayern Munich.The England captain was substitu...
Harry Kane will miss England’s friendly against Wales at Wembley on Thursday as he continues to recover from a minor injury picked up while playing for Bayern Munich.
The England captain was substituted late in Bayern’s 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend after taking a knock to his right foot. He reported for international duty but has been unable to train this week, prompting Thomas Tuchel to confirm that he will not feature against Wales.
Tuchel, however, remains confident that Kane will return in time for next Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Latvia in Riga, which could see England take another major step towards sealing qualification.
The German coach said the 32-year-old’s issue is “too painful to kick a ball” but insisted there is “no major concern” about his fitness.
England’s medical staff have opted to give Kane additional rest to prevent any aggravation of the injury. The striker was seen with a light bandage around his foot after the Frankfurt game but has since been undergoing treatment with a view to returning for the competitive fixture.
In Kane’s absence, Tuchel confirmed that one of Jordan Henderson, John Stones or Declan Rice will wear the captain’s armband against Wales.
The England manager praised their professionalism and leadership, saying they “set the highest standards” in training and embody the unity he wants to see throughout the squad.
Tuchel also used his pre-match press conference to underline his belief that England’s success at the 2026 World Cup will depend more on collective strength than individual talent.
“We have to arrive as a team,” he said. “We will not be favourites, but if we have the right spirit and cohesion, we can beat anyone.”
The match against Wales will be England’s first meeting with their neighbours since their 3-0 win in the 2022 World Cup group stage.
Tuchel expects a fiery atmosphere and warned his players against complacency, acknowledging that Wales “will look to make the most of their underdog role.”
With Kane unavailable, Ollie Watkins is expected to lead the line, while Marcus Rashford could also be used in a central role.
The fixture offers Tuchel a valuable chance to assess England’s attacking depth as he continues to shape his squad ahead of next summer’s tournament.
Category: General Sports
