When England meets Wales at Wembley, the rivalry alone is enough to electrify the stands. It’s a clash steeped in history and pride — a game that rarely feels “just a friendly.” But this week, the build-up has centered around one surprising headline: Harry Kane will not play.
As the Three Lions, led by Thomas Tuchel, prepare for their international friendly against Craig Bellamy’s Wales, many expected Kane to lead the line as always. After all, the Bayern Munich striker has been in imperious form, firing on all cylinders in Germany. Yet, in a curious twist, the captain’s armband will be passed to someone else, and England will take the field without their record-breaking No.9.
England has dominated this fixture in recent decades, winning seven consecutive meetings since Wales’ last victory back in 1984. Tuchel, now deep into his tenure with the national team, has injected his trademark discipline into the side — boasting six clean sheets in seven matches.
Under his guidance, the team has also maintained a perfect record in World Cup qualifying, with five wins out of five. The friendly against Wales was meant to be a stepping stone before Tuesday’s qualifier against Latvia — a chance to rotate, experiment, and build rhythm.
For Wales, meanwhile, this was an opportunity for redemption. Bellamy’s squad, packed with young talents and veteran leadership, is chasing a historic return to the World Cup stage. A spirited result at Wembley could provide the perfect boost before their own crucial clash with Belgium next week. But for all the tactical talk and national pride, the attention ultimately drifted back to one question: why wasn’t Harry Kane on the team sheet?
The truth behind Kane’s absence
Midweek reports finally confirmed the news: Kane suffered a minor ankle injury during Bayern Munich’s 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt last Saturday. The setback was not major, but just enough to keep him sidelined for Thursday night’s game.
“Harry will miss the game. He got a kick in his last match and it is too painful to kick the ball and too risky for him,” Thomas Tuchel explained at his pre-match press conference. “We’ll give him the chance for it to calm down and we’re convinced he will be ready for Latvia.”
The 32-year-old forward had been in blistering form — 11 goals in his first six Bundesliga games — and was expected to extend his fine run at Wembley. Instead, he spent the week in light training, away from the main group at St. George’s Park, as medical staff carefully managed his recovery.
Tuchel elaborated further on his captain’s situation: “He couldn’t train the whole three days. He couldn’t even kick a ball. It is likely he’ll be back in training on Saturday.”
