The England national team have been prepping for the start of their World Cup campaign by virtue of a training camp in the sweltering heat and humidity of Tampa Bay, Florida. Their players have been on a steep adjustment curve getting used to the boiling temperatures, high humidity percentages, and questionable pitch conditions with the quilt stitch esque patches of grass that get laid down on most American NFL grounds. They marched to a 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand at Raymond James stadium
over the weekend thanks to a Harry Kane header just before halftime and they now have one tuneup friendly left in Orlando against Costa Rica before their World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas, Texas.
England’s camp has been unforgiving on every player in the squad, but that’s the whole reason they’ve been training in West-Central Florida. Despite the difficult conditions, Thomas Tuchel recently raved about the shape he feels Kane is in at the moment, referring to the Bayern Munich striker as being in “top shape.”
“Harry is in top shape and ready to go. He showed me the whole week that he is ready, he’s determined. He also got titles, he was so influential in Bayern Munich’s campaign. He is our key player. He looks lean, sharp and he trains at the highest level. We had a defensive training session (on Friday) and he was leading the intensity. He is so used to the high press from Bayern Munich and the intensive game that they play in the opponents’ half. He is leading by example. I think he is in the best shape,” the England manager enthused in a press conference ahead of the New Zealand friendly (via @iMiaSanMia).
The words from Tuchel shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise as Kane is coming off of the season of his life for Bayern. Despite falling short in the Champions League and winning the domestic double, Kane tallied 61 goals and 7 assists from a total of 51 appearances across all competitions and is an odds-on favorite for the Ballon d’Or if he has a strong showing at the World Cup with England. Barrin any injury concerns that may arise, there shouldn’t be any reason to suspect Kane won’t be absolutely vital for the Three Lions and Tuchel will be hoping his Bayern fan will just carry on in an England shirt in the United States.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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