England captain Harry Kane has admitted he was not surprised by Thomas Tuchel's bold England World Cup squad selection, after the manager dropped big names including Trent Alexander-Arnold
John Cross
17:46, 02 Jun 2026
Harry Kane and England are heading to the World Cup without Trent Alexander-Arnold
Harry Kane and England are heading to the World Cup without Trent Alexander-Arnold(Image: Getty Images)
Harry Kane has revealed he wasn't surprised by Thomas Tuchel's decision to omit several high-profile players from his World Cup squad — explaining the England manager was intent on sending a clear "statement."
The England skipper disclosed that Tuchel didn't seek his input on selections but was ruthless in dropping the likes of Harry Maguire and Cole Palmer. Former Liverpool vice captain Trent Alexander-Arnold, who now plays for Real Madrid, also failed to make the cut.
When questioned whether the announcement caught him off guard, Kane responded: "No, indeed it didn't. He wanted to make a statement. A World Cup is, after all, a major event; so, even though I had a feeling I would be selected, it was still a very nice feeling to receive that phone call. In fact, it's going to be tough the day I stop getting called up.
"We spoke this winter — during the winter break — and we stayed in touch throughout the season, though mostly through short messages wishing me 'good luck' before a match.
"In any case, we never discussed player selection. He simply called me to let me know that I had made the squad."
Kane describes his squad responsibilities as a dual role encompassing both scoring and leadership.
Alexander-Arnold was not selected by England
Alexander-Arnold was not selected by England(Image: Getty Images)
He added: "It is indeed a delicate balancing act — particularly because, first and foremost, a forward is expected to score goals. If he isn't doing that, it becomes difficult for him to have the credibility to tell his teammates what they should be doing.
"But, at the same time, being a leader means understanding that not everything hinges solely on your own performance; you also have to ensure that everyone around you is in a position to give their absolute best."
The England talisman, however, has his sights set on further records and the Ballon d'Or.
Kane, in his characteristically modest fashion, believes he merits the game's most prestigious individual accolade following a remarkable season in which he has netted 61 goals for Bayern Munich.
The Three Lions skipper has also set his sights on rewriting the record books at this summer's World Cup, with the prospect of joining the elite company of Lionel Messi and others serving as a powerful driving force.
Article continues below
Speaking to L'Equipe, Kane said: "It really is a pretty crazy total. My previous record for a single club season was 44 goals (in 2023–2024).
"And once you cross that 60-goal threshold, you find yourself in a stratosphere that, until recently, had only been inhabited by Messi (73 goals in 2011–2012) and Cristiano Ronaldo (61 in 2014–2015). Back then, their statistics truly seemed out of reach to me.
"But if I crossed the 60-goal mark this season, it's simply because — unlike in previous years — I didn't experience any dips in form."