Thomas Tuchel says he has “anymore words” left to describe Harry Kane as the England captain prepares to make his 125th appearance for the men’s national team against Czechia on Tuesday.
Kane will equal Peter Shilton’s record as England’s most-capped men’s player if he starts at Wembley. The 33-year-old has scored 21 goals in his past 22 appearances for the Three Lions and has found the net three times in four matches against Czechia.
Tuchel is expected to make changes for England’s final game of the international break, although he offered little insight into his selection plans.
England began the Nations League with a disappointing 3-2 defeat by Spain but responded by beating Czechia and then Croatia, who they defeated 7-0.
Despite the possibility of rotation, Tuchel made clear his admiration for Kane, who is on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or.
“I’m not sure I have anymore words,” Tuchel said.
“We’ve spoken so often about him, and I try to find new words which then make no sense.
“Everything he does, he does at the highest level; he does it consecutively, and I am very sure he will be the one leading the team out onto the training pitch.
“He will lead the team in the warm-up and not do one step less or one step slower. That is the level he has.”
Tuchel said Kane had reached a further level since taking on a “major role” at Bayern Munich, both in his performances and his influence away from the pitch.
“Since he took this major role for Bayern Munich, he found a new level. It’s the highest level, on and off the pitch,” he added.
The England manager also said elite strikers are motivated by personal targets as well as team success.
“All these number nines in world football, no matter in which league, they are built a bit different,” he said.
“They don’t only do it so their team wins; they also do it for themselves and for the records: ‘How many can I score? How many can I assist? Where is the next record?’
“That’s what drives them, and it’s good that drives them. You will not find a striker of this calibre who does not have these individual goals.”
Scott ruled out after thigh injury
England will be without Alex Scott, who withdrew from the squad on Monday with a thigh injury. Reports have suggested Bournemouth are unhappy with the way the injury was handled, with the 23-year-old potentially facing up to eight weeks out during a busy period for the club.
Tuchel said England had not taken a risk by starting Scott against Croatia.
“On a human level, I feel bad that he does not get his next cap against Czechia,” he said. “In my mind, he started.
“If we had the slightest idea it was a risk to play him, we would not have taken it. We never do this.”
Tuchel said England’s medical and physical departments remained in constant communication with all players and their clubs.
He acknowledged Bournemouth’s frustration at losing a key player but insisted there had been “absolutely no risk apparent” to him or the physical staff when Scott was selected.
England are unbeaten in eight matches against Czechia at Wembley, winning six and drawing two. Their most recent meeting there was a 1-0 victory in the Euro 2020 group stage.
However, England were beaten by Spain at the national stadium earlier in this international window. Their last successive competitive home defeats came between November 1999, against Scotland, and October 2000, against Germany, during Kevin Keegan’s tenure.
