In the last international friendly match before the start of the USA-Canadian-Mexican World Cup, England lost 0-1 to Japan at Wembley Stadium.

After the match, England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted that the absence of star striker and captain Harry Kane due to injury was the key reason for the team's lack of attacking power and eventual defeat.

Harry Kane, who plays for Bayern Munich, suffered an unexpected injury during training the day before the match and was forced to withdraw from the squad after only 15 minutes of playing time. Without their top scorer, England appeared to lack depth and sharpness in the game.

In a post-match interview, Tuchel bluntly pointed out Kane's irreplaceable role: "Whether it's England or Bayern Munich, losing Kane would greatly reduce the team's deterrent effect, and no team in the world can remain unaffected."

"Top teams rely on top players, which is perfectly normal. We not only lost a key player, but also a spiritual leader. The captain's withdrawal at the last minute before the game definitely disrupted our tactical plans."

Besides Kane, England were also missing several key players whom Tuchel considered part of the "core leadership" for this match, including defenders John Stones, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka, as well as veteran Jordan Henderson.

With only weeks left until the official announcement of the World Cup squad in May, Tuchel admitted that the next two months will be an extremely agonizing period for him. He revealed that he now feels apprehensive watching live matches on weekends because from now on, even a minor muscle strain could mean a player's complete exclusion from the World Cup.

Despite concerns about the current wave of injuries, Tuchel still hopes that the players currently on the injury list can make good use of the next eight weeks and fully recover before the World Cup.

Image source: Internet/BBC official website