Kane ruled out of England friendly with Wales
England captain Harry Kane will be sidelined for Thursday’s friendly against Wales after sustaining a painful knock in Bayern Munich’s recent match, manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed. Kane, who is recovering from an injury incurred during Bayern’s victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, is expected to return for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Latvia. The England all-time top scorer has signed a contract extending his leadership but will miss the first game of this international double-header as precaution.
Tuchel revealed that Kane was unable to take part in training this week due to the injury, making it too risky to expose him to further impact. “He got a kick in his last match with Bayern Munich,” Tuchel said. “It was too painful to kick a ball, and the risk of another hit meant we had to let everything calm down.” The manager expressed confidence in Kane’s availability for the Latvia match.
In Kane’s absence, the captain’s armband will be handed to either John Stones, Jordan Henderson, or Declan Rice, all senior squad members familiar with leadership roles. The selection for the Wales game follows a squad announcement that notably excluded Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish, as Tuchel opted to maintain the core lineup that convincingly defeated Serbia 5-0 in the recent qualifiers.
Tuchel emphasized the importance of consistency and team cohesion in his selection criteria. “We believe in what we are building with this team and squad,” he stated. “The feedback after our last match was very positive, credit to the team for playing well as a unit.” The England manager acknowledged the challenge of managing expectations around squad choices but remains committed to fostering a competitive and unified side.
Looking ahead, Tuchel underlined England’s objective to qualify securely for the World Cup and perform strongly in the tournament. He drew inspiration from a New England Patriots philosophy: “We don’t collect the most talented players; we build a team.” This approach shapes England’s strategy as they prepare for a challenging qualification campaign and a bid for international success.
The friendly against Wales will also feature a tribute to dementia awareness, with players walking out alongside adults living with the condition as part of the Alzheimer’s Society International campaign. Tuchel expressed pride in the team’s involvement, highlighting the importance of raising awareness and supporting affected families.
Kane’s temporary absence is a setback but a precautionary measure that aligns with England’s long-term ambitions, preserving the fitness of their key striker for crucial World Cup qualifiers and beyond.