‘They drive the standards’ – Tuchel admits England missed key players in defeat to Japan | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel admits he missed his key core of England players in his side’s defeat to Japan.

The Three Lions were without Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, John Stones and others for the friendly loss.

“Without Harry Kane, we don’t have the same threat,” Tuchel conceded. “Without Harry Kane, Bayern Munich does not have the same threat. No team in the world would. It’s normal. Top teams rely on top players. That’s absolutely normal.

“It’s always a bit disrupting if the captain leaves the last training and is out of the squad.

“We lost Noni, Bukayo, Declan Rice, John Stones, who are normally the core and the drive of this group and it effected us. It’s normal. They are the players to carry the quality and the momentum on their shoulders.

“Jordan Henderson is a key figure for us in camp and is out. Declan Rice is out, Bukayo is out, their captains for their club, they drive the standards and then Harry Kane drops out so it’s basically the leadership group that is not available and it effects the group.”