Harry Kane enjoyed a career-best season in the Bundesliga, striking 61 goals in all competitions.
Yet the Bayern Munich forward is racing the clock, with his 33rd birthday on 28 July.
The captain, who scored six times at the World Cup, said after the defeat to Argentina that it was “too early” to discuss playing at the 2030 finals.
He should, however, still be central to Euro 2028, and lifting silverware on home turf could mark a fitting end to his international journey.
So, barring injury, the starting striker role is effectively settled.
Tuchel’s main job is to establish a Plan B, identifying a capable understudy if Kane is unavailable.
Phil Foden was tried as a false nine against Uruguay in March, but he underwhelmed to such a degree that he missed the World Cup squad.
Tuchel also picked Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney as central options, yet each received only a brief substitute outing.
Watkins, the Premier League’s top-scoring English striker last season with 16, saw just six minutes when he came on for Kane against Panama.
Aside from stoppage time versus Mexico—when Morgan Rogers replaced him—Kane played every other minute.
Toney, like Watkins aged 30, was limited to the dying moments of stoppage time against Argentina.
It all points to an overreliance on Kane, and as he nears 35, alternatives are needed to manage his workload.
Only Dominic Solanke (28) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (29) have also led the line for England in the past year.
In the Premier League last season, just three English strikers hit double figures: Watkins, Leeds’ Calvert-Lewin (14), and Brighton’s 35-year-old Danny Welbeck (13).
Age is not on their side, and it’s unclear where the next wave will emerge from.
Hopes had been high that Eddie Nketiah, England Under-21s’ all-time top scorer, would be the next prolific graduate.
But the former Arsenal forward has netted only five Premier League goals across two seasons at Crystal Palace.
Perhaps Liam Delap, still just 23 and a 12-goal Premier League scorer for Ipswich Town in 2024–25, will finally establish himself at Chelsea—or at a new club.
This may prove a challenge for a future manager beyond Euro 2028, with Tuchel likely content to rely on Kane for now.