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England registered another pre-World Cup win, but the 1-0 victory over New Zealand in Tampa once again highlighted Harry Kane’s immense value to the side. With the World Cup opener against Croatia on June 17 fast approaching, it’s clear that the captain should be rested for Wednesday’s friendly against Costa Rica. Thomas Tuchel’s men looked uninspired for most of the evening, and it was Kane who once again came to the rescue with the decisive goal.

Tuchel opted for a relatively strong starting XI, and while Marcus Rashford showed glimpses of quality, England found it difficult to break down the lowest-ranked World Cup qualifiers (85th). The breakthrough finally arrived in first-half stoppage time when Kane cleverly glanced Djed Spence’s inviting cross into the bottom corner, securing a narrow lead.

For the second half, Tuchel replaced his entire starting team, effectively turning the game into a controlled training session. However, England’s attack looked lifeless without their talismanic striker. Ivan Toney, who led the line after the break, failed to make any real impact and struggled to fill Kane’s boots.

Tuchel may be tempted to deploy his strongest line-up against Costa Rica in midweek, but this performance served as a reminder that Kane’s fitness is paramount. The manager must protect his captain ahead of the Croatia match and hope that other players step up to share the goalscoring responsibility.

Here’s how each of the England players fared at the Raymond James Stadium:

Goalkeeper & Defence

Jordan Pickford (6/10): Dealt comfortably with a tricky strike from Matt Garbett but had very little else to handle.

Jarell Quansah (5/10): Started at right-back and was caught out of position more than once, showing signs of inexperience.

John Stones (6/10): Missed a good early opportunity from a corner. The Manchester City defender will be relieved to have completed 45 minutes without any injury issues.

Marc Guehi (6/10): Chris Wood’s movement caused him a few problems, but overall he handled the challenge well.

Djed Spence (7/10): Decision-making wasn’t always sharp, yet he provided the decisive assist for Kane’s goal with a pinpoint delivery.

Midfield

Jordan Henderson (6/10): Not the first choice for many fans, but the veteran midfielder kept the ball moving efficiently and produced one quality pass over the top that Ollie Watkins failed to convert.

Kobbie Mainoo (6/10): The Manchester United youngster showed energy and intent, creating a couple of chances and trying to drive England forward whenever possible.

Attack

Ollie Watkins (4/10): Played out of position on the right due to Arsenal players’ absence and struggled to make an impression. Missed a clear chance after being set through.

Morgan Rogers (5/10): Under pressure to impress in the No.10 role but failed to influence the game in the first half.

Marcus Rashford (7/10): Despite uncertainty over his Barcelona future, Rashford looked sharp and confident. Tested the keeper twice and created a fine chance for Kane with clever wing play.

Harry Kane (8/10): Once again the difference-maker. His expertly placed header broke the deadlock, reaffirming his importance to England’s World Cup hopes.

Substitutes & Manager

James Trafford (6/10): Replaced Pickford and had a quiet outing between the posts.

Tino Livramento (6/10): Came on for Spence at left-back but didn’t offer the same attacking thrust.

Ezri Konsa (6/10): Subbed in for Guehi and enjoyed a calm, uneventful 45 minutes.

Dan Burn (6/10): Partnered Konsa in central defence and was unlucky not to score, his header grazing the outside of the post.

Reece James (6/10): Took over from Quansah at right-back; looked more comfortable but not particularly dynamic.

Nico O'Reilly (6/10): Replaced Mainoo in midfield but failed to make a strong case for himself.

Jude Bellingham (7/10): Came on eager to impress after starting on the bench. Showed flashes of quality, including a stylish outside-of-the-foot pass to Gordon.

Anthony Gordon (6/10): Operated on the left wing after coming on for Rashford, but his final delivery lacked precision.

Elliott Anderson (7/10): Brought energy to midfield and crafted one excellent chance with a well-weighted long pass.

Rio Ngumoha (6/10): The young Liverpool prospect displayed enthusiasm and drive, even though he’s not part of the World Cup squad.

Ivan Toney (5/10): Took Kane’s place up front but struggled to make an impact, even disrupting O’Reilly’s shooting opportunity.

Thomas Tuchel (5/10): Will appreciate that all players got valuable minutes without injuries, but the overall performance was disappointing against a weak opponent. There’s still plenty of work ahead before the World Cup begins.