Let us be brutally honest about where this England team finds itself. There are creaking joints in the machine, a nagging tactical headache at right b...
Let us be brutally honest about where this England team finds itself. There are creaking joints in the machine, a nagging tactical headache at right back, and a tendency to put the entire nation through the wringer before the final whistle. You watch them play and you wonder if they will ever make it easy on themselves. But here is the core truth that cuts through all the noise: they possess Harry Kane. And that changes everything.For years, the debate about England's greatest ever striker was a fight between the predatory instincts of Lineker and the all round brilliance of Shearer. That conversation is now closed. Kane is not merely a finisher; he is a creator, a deep lying architect, and a relentless leader who drags this flawed side forward by sheer force of will. When the ball drops to him in the box, you do not hope. You expect. His link up play from the edge of the final third is the difference between England cycling the ball sideways and actually prising open a low block. He is the one player who turns transitional play into a goal threat.And this is precisely why his name must be in the Ballon d'Or mix. Forget the empty trophies debate, that is a club issue for the columnists to argue over. When you watch Kane drop deep to ping a diagonal pass, then sprint 40 yards to meet the cross, you are watching a complete No. 9 who has rewritten the role. His clinical finishing from outside the box, his ability to hold off two defenders and still pick a corner, it is the kind of pedigree that makes you reach for a superlative. He is special. He is, quite simply, England's greatest. Savour every minute of it.Does his presence paper over the cracks Absolutely. The right back situation remains a crisis waiting to happen. The midfield balance is off, too often lacking the rhythm to break down a stubborn opponent. But that is the point. With Kane on the pitch, England do not need to be perfect. They just need to get him the ball in enough dangerous areas. He will do the rest. That is the mark of a true world class matchwinner. He makes the team better than the sum of its parts.So by all means, worry about the system. Grumble about the selections. But never question the problem England do not have. They have the one forward who can win a shootout, the one talisman who can turn squeaky bum time into a moment of calm. That is a luxury most nations would trade their entire squad for. And it is why this England team, for all its flaws, still has a seat at the top table.
