England Weighs Post-Kane Attack After 85 Goals, Eyeing Delap and False Nine Options
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 18
England Weighs Post-Kane Attack After 85 Goals, Eyeing Delap and False Nine Options
2 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 18
Summary
England’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina sharpened concern over life after Harry Kane, who turns 33 in 10 days and would be nearly 37 at the 2030 tournament.
Tuchel’s reliance on Kane was stark in North America: he played almost every minute, scored six goals, and saw only brief relief from Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, suggesting limited trust in backup strikers.
The succession pool looks thin. Watkins and Toney are both 30, Delap managed one league goal after a £30m move to Chelsea, and only three English forwards reached 10 Premier League goals in each of the past two seasons.
Youth prospects including 18-year-old Shim Mheuka and teenagers at Manchester City and Manchester United offer longer-term hope, but none appears close to replacing England’s record scorer.
A false nine may become England’s fallback if no striker emerges, with 25-year-old Anthony Gordon a leading candidate after thriving centrally for England’s Under-21s and in spells at Newcastle.