Tuchel says Kane Is “wired differently” as England captain eyes caps record

An outing against the Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday would take Kane to 125 caps, drawing him level with former goalkeeper Peter Shilton.

It would be another landmark for the 33-year-old, who already holds England’s scoring record and took his tally to 89 goals with a double in Saturday’s 7-0 victory over Croatia.

Kane also became Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer with 280 goals before joining Bayern Munich in 2023. His scoring exploits have continued in Germany, where he broke a 49-year-old record in September by reaching 100 Bundesliga goals in just 98 appearances.

Tuchel sees that accumulation of records as a reflection of the mentality that separates elite centre-forwards from other players.

“I think all the number nines in the world, regardless of the league or whether it is youth football, are wired differently,” he told reporters on Monday. “They do not just do it so their team wins. They also do it for themselves, for the records.”

“How many goals can I score, how many assists can I provide, who is the league’s top scorer, who do I need to overtake, where is the next record?”

“You will not find any striker of that calibre who does not have personal targets that drive him to his limits. That is his motivation. That is how Harry is built.”

After failing to win a trophy at Tottenham, Kane has collected two Bundesliga titles in Munich. 

His outstanding form during 2026 has also made him a leading contender for the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded at the end of October.

“I am not sure what else I can say, because I feel he scores all the time, plays brilliantly and is on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or,” Tuchel said. “He does everything, and always at the highest level.”

“Since taking on this important role at Bayern Munich, he has reached another level, both on and off the pitch.”

While Kane approaches a personal milestone, Tuchel must adjust his squad following the injury withdrawals of Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa.

Scott made his first England start against Croatia but is now dealing with a thigh muscle problem and is reportedly facing up to two months out.

Tuchel acknowledged Bournemouth’s frustration at losing an important player but defended the decision to select him.

“I understand Bournemouth are unhappy because they have lost a key player,” he said. “But I can only say that, at the moment we made the decision to play him, there was absolutely no apparent risk to me or our medical team. This is simply an exceptional case.”

England enter the Czech Republic fixture second in Nations League Group A3 with six points, three behind leaders Spain.

For Kane, the evening offers an opportunity to add another historic achievement to a career defined by goals and records. For Tuchel’s team, the immediate objective is another victory to strengthen their position in the race for the knockout stage.