Harry Kane was in the form of his life in the Bundesliga last season, scoring 61 goals in all competitions.
But time is against the Bayern Munich striker, who turns 33 on 28 July.
The captain, who scored six goals at the World Cup, said after the loss to Argentina that it was “too early” to talk about playing at the finals in 2030.
Kane will, though, surely be around for Euro 2028. Lifting a trophy on home soil could yet be the end of his international career.
So who starts up front should not be a problem, barring injury.
Tuchel’s key task is to work out a Plan B, or find an able understudy should Kane not be available.
Phil Foden was given a chance in a false nine role against Uruguay in March, but he underperformed to such an extent that he missed out on the World Cup.
Tuchel took two other central strikers, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney. Yet they were limited to one minor substitute appearance each.
Watkins, the top-scoring English striker in the Premier League last season with 16 goals, played just six minutes when he replaced Kane against Panama.
Kane played every other minute save for stoppage time against Mexico, when Morgan Rogers replaced him.
Toney, who like Watkins is 30, was only granted the final throes of stoppage time against Argentina.
It suggests an over-reliance on Kane, and alternatives must be found to ease his workload as he approaches the age of 35.
Dominic Solanke (28) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (29) are the only other strikers to be used by England in the last 12 months.
Watkins, Leeds’ Calvert-Lewin (14) and the 35-year-old Brighton attacker Danny Welbeck (13) were the only English strikers to hit double figures in the Premier League last season.
Age is not on the side of any of these players, and it is unclear where the new blood is coming from.
It was hoped that Eddie Nketiah, the England Under-21 all-time record goalscorer, would be the next prolific striker to come through the youth levels.
But the former Arsenal player has scored just five Premier League goals in two seasons at Crystal Palace.
Perhaps Liam Delap, still only 23, who scored 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich Town in 2024-25, will finally find his feet at Chelsea – or at a new club.
This may be a problem for another manager beyond Euro 2028, as Tuchel may feel that he has got Kane and that will do him.
