Kane rescues England as Tuchel issues remain
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- Harry Kane scored twice in the closing stages against DR Congo to spare England what the source describes as a result 'that would have ranked alongside the last-16 defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016, and the loss to the United States at the 1950 World Cup.'
- Thomas Tuchel played Declan Rice at right-back against DR Congo after injuries to Tino Livramento (missed the World Cup) and Reece James (no return date from a hamstring injury), drawing criticism from Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
- Kane and Jude Bellingham are England's only reliable creative forces at this World Cup, but the source warns Tuchel cannot rely on them to 'bail under-performing team-mates and their head coach out' forever.
- Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins have barely featured as Kane understudies — Toney has not appeared at all, and Watkins got just six minutes as a substitute against Panama, despite Tuchel parachuting Toney back into the squad after a year out of the national side.
- Tuchel left natural creators Cole Palmer and Phil Foden out of his World Cup squad, and England's creative shortcomings were visible in a goalless draw against Ghana.
- England face co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in the last 16, where Micah Richards noted the team 'is going to be at altitude' and will need Rice's energy in midfield.
Why it matters: Tuchel heads into a high-stakes last-16 match against Mexico at altitude without a settled right-back, without a minute of meaningful game time for either Kane understudy, and with his squad's creative depth already exposed. If Kane or Bellingham underperform against Mexico, England have no proven Plan B in attack.
