Former Chelsea star Chris Sutton has warned England’s incoming manager, Thomas Tuchel, about the predictable nature of captain Harry Kane’s playing style, urging him to find a solution ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sutton’s comments came as he expressed concerns over Kane’s ability to make an impact in international football. While Kane is known for his incredible technical ability, Sutton pointed out a key issue with his game that might hinder England’s attacking versatility.
“Kane never runs in behind. That makes him predictable,” Sutton told Daily Mail. “When he drops deep, he’s brilliant on the half turn, but you need players to stretch backlines because you don’t want to be predictable.”
Sutton went on to explain that when Kane plays, the England attack often becomes too easy to defend against, saying, “When Kane plays, England become predictable because as a defender, you know he’s going to drop in and not stretch it the other way.”
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Sutton also questioned whether Kane’s physicality and athleticism would improve over the next 18 months, adding, “I don’t think his physicality or athleticism is going to improve.”
With the 2026 World Cup just a couple of years away, Sutton’s remarks suggest that Tuchel will need to find a way to make the England attack less predictable if they are to challenge for international success.
