England fans were left frustrated following the March international window at Wembley. Amidst the criticism, manager Thomas Tuchel defended the team’s performance by comparing Harry Kane’s importance to that of Lionel Messi on Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo on Portugal, pointing out the massive void left by the captain’s absence.
“Why would Argentina not rely on Messi or Portugal not rely on Cristiano Ronaldo? This is totally normal… In the absence of Harry Kane, we don’t have the same threat,” Tuchel told ITV when asked about the team’s perceived over-reliance on the striker.
England left a poor impression following a 1–1 draw against Uruguay and a surprising 1–0 defeat to Japan. The team’s lack of offensive intensity and a focal point in attack was evident, as their only goal across both matches came via defender Ben White off a corner kick.
Argentina and Portugal prove they can win without Messi and Ronaldo
While Tuchel’s assessment of a team’s dependence on a superstar holds weight, both Argentina and Portugal have demonstrated the ability to secure results without their legendary icons on the pitch. Roberto Martinez’s men proved this during the March FIFA window, securing a 2–0 victory over the USMNT, even though they were later held to a scoreless draw against Mexico.
Francisco Trincao celebrates a goal for Portugal vs USMNT. (Getty Images)
Argentina have also shown it can thrive without their captain in even higher-stakes environments. Lionel Scaloni’s men managed a 1–0 win over Uruguay without Messi and famously thrashed Brazil 4–1 in March 2025 during the World Cup Qualifiers, proving the depth of the world champions’ squad.
Harry Kane’s monstrous season
Kane’s absence is even more striking when looking at the incredible numbers he has put up so far this season. Across 40 matches in all competitions for Bayern Munich, the English striker has a staggering 48 goals, making him by far the top scorer for both his club and the Bundesliga.
The impact Kane has on any team is immense, and his absence is equally significant. “Bayern Munich in the absence of Harry Kane does not have the same threat. No team in the world has the same threat,” Tuchel concluded in his analysis of the forward’s importance.
