Tuchel warns England will never replace Kane as striker closes in on 100 goals

Thomas Tuchel has issued a stark warning to England: there will never be another Harry Kane. The England manager made the declaration after Kane scored his 87th international goal during the Three Lions’ victory in Prague, leaving the 33-year-old just 13 goals short of becoming the first England player to reach 100.

Tuchel, who first worked with Kane when he managed Bayern Munich and oversaw his move to the club in 2023, spoke in glowing terms about the striker’s relentless standards. “What is there to say? He does it in every single match. The highest level of goalscorer, of finishing,” Tuchel said. “He is a complete package.”

The England boss pointed to Kane’s behaviour in training as evidence of what sets him apart. “You were there for maybe the first 15 minutes open training session on a minus two and he is on the second lap over on the left at the front. He is not behind, he is not slow, he is not doing his shoes. He is the first one out there.”

On the prospect of Kane reaching 100 international goals, Tuchel was matter-of-fact. “He is closing in. He scored again. 13 left. That’s 13 matches.” What once seemed a distant milestone now appears inevitable.

Beyond the goalscoring records, Kane is also two caps away from equalling Peter Shilton’s England appearance record of 125. His influence stretches well beyond statistics — Tuchel describes him as the voice of the dressing room and the player who sets the tone for the entire squad.

Kane’s standing in Germany has grown just as dramatically. Bayern Munich legend Ali Hoeness has called him the club’s greatest-ever signing, a verdict Tuchel finds deeply satisfying. “It tells me everyone can see his true value and his personality and that he imposed that into a big club like Bayern Munich,” Tuchel said. “It is not easy to change and to come to Bayern Munich when you win, win, win and you are under the spotlight. He won everyone over with his quality, work ethic and his personality. It is a beautiful story.”

The question of succession remains uncomfortable for England. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the closest candidate currently in the squad, but Tuchel’s comments suggest no one is being groomed as a like-for-like heir. For now, England’s plan is simply to keep Kane fit and let him keep scoring.