It was the least surprising of lessons to take. Harry Kane can score goals. After 61 this season for Bayern Munich, after 78 before in England’s colours, another came in Florida to defeat New Zealand. The problem is that such games, so close to a World Cup, are supposed to produce more meaningful conclusions.
And there weren’t too many. Some 22 players got a cap; a first in the case of Rio Ngumoha, although, barring an ill-timed injury to anyone else, the 17-year-old won’t be at the World Cup anyway. Few really enhanced their chances, and maybe only one in a way that might alter Thomas Tuchel’s thinking when it comes to his starting 11 against Croatia in Dallas.
That was Marcus Rashford who, at the risk of damning him with faint praise, was livelier than most; his skill during a staccato run on the left led to a Kane chance. He whipped in two shots in a minute, though neither was on target. It wasn’t spectacular, but at least it ranked as encouraging.
Rashford had arrived earlier in Florida to get himself into prime physical condition, training at Inter Miami with a private coach. He had missed Euro 2024; he was not even culled in the final cut. So, besides having a place to win, he may have a point to prove.
He lingers in limbo after Barcelona preferred to buy Anthony Gordon instead of Rashford. This could bring a role reversal on the international stage. The Manchester United returnee – seemingly, anyway – may be nudging ahead of the Merseysider in Tuchel’s thinking. Left wing appears one of the most open of positions. Gordon played the second half, his first appearance in almost two months, without having the same impact as Rashford. But then his game relies on sharpness; maybe an outing against Costa Rica on Wednesday will give him that.
Not for the first time, though, England’s only incision came from Kane. Now only nine men have more international goals, even if he shares 10th place with Neymar. His goal was also a moment for Djed Spence to savour, with his cross finding Kane. The Tottenham man tends to be better at the defensive part of his game, stronger at the physical than the technical. He may have shown hidden depths to his game.
The presumption is nevertheless that Spence will not be starting in Dallas, even if, as Tuchel made 11 changes at half-time, there was an illogical element to some of his choices.
Arguably the best English left-back, Nico O’Reilly, spent the second half in midfield. It felt odd if the intention is for the Manchester City man to appear in defence against Croatia. Instead, first Spence and then Tino Livramento occupied that role.
And when the teams arrived, the temptation was to think that Spence is about the fifth best English left-back, Jarell Quansah is about the fifth best English right-back, Ollie Watkins not even the fifth best English right winger, in part because he isn’t a right winger anyway. He owed his selection to the absence of Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, a consequence of Arsenal’s participation in the Champions League final, but Watkins was ineffective.
But there is a broader theme. Versatility helps in selecting a squad but Tuchel may have put too great an emphasis on it; with 26 players, he could have opted for more specialists. Trent Alexander-Arnold may think so, when he sees Quansah operating at right-back.
Along with swapping everyone over, it gave an international the feel of a training session. If Tuchel’s plan was to put the warm into the World Cup warm-up, England’s performance was more tepid than sizzling. Perhaps that was inevitable, though, with combination of the climate, the fatigue resulting from an exhausting club season and the general ennui of international friendlies, even those five days before a tournament begins. It was scarcely played with Premier League intensity; but then few England matches are.
Arguably, though, it was a second England match of the day against New Zealand that was affected by the weather, though they had a different kind of hydration break at Lord’s. The football had more play, though it is a moot point if that was a good thing.
But a couple of elements may have had a significance. Jude Bellingham was the captain in second half; a sign the man Tuchel omitted in October has been reintegrated, perhaps, or simply because none of Kane, Jordan Henderson, John Stones and Declan Rice was on the pitch.
And Ngumoha, who scarcely looked overawed, showed some bright touches. It bodes well for the long term, but now England’s focus is on the next few weeks, so he may have been an entertaining irrelevance.
