Drop deep, cash in - why Kane can be England's free-scoring false nine

Harry Kane has scored 61 goals for Bayern Munich over the season just gone

There has been much debate about how England should use Harry Kane. But Thomas Tuchel's opinion is clear. He wants his captain to drop deep.

Pundits and fans alike have questioned Kane's positioning in the past. Why, they ask, would such a prolific scorer not stay in the box when England need goals?

But dropping deep might enable Kane to strike gold at this World Cup. Explaining why requires a look at the role he has been playing for Bayern over the past few months.

Kane has just enjoyed the most prolific season of his club career. In 51 games for Bayern Munich, he scored 61 goals.

It is a ridiculous tally for any striker, never mind one tasked with contributing to a side's build-up play as he has for Bayern over the season just completed.

England fans will want to see this goal-happy version of Kane in the World Cup. But it is worth noting that he achieved his remarkable total playing in an increasingly free role, encouraged to drop as deep as his full-backs at times.

And so Tuchel has decided that building the squad around this version of Kane makes the most sense.

Bayern lacked a natural link player between their defence and attack for much of the season because of the injuries that plagued midfielder Jamal Musiala.

Kane was asked to drop in to solve this problem.

"When Jamal's playing, it's a bit different. Getting the ball off defenders, driving... when we were playing together, it was better for him to go and do that," Kane said.

"This season, it's allowed me to play a little bit deeper, use my qualities in that sense of turning and playing it forward, then arriving later in the box."

Kane executed the role brilliantly, possessing a remarkable passing quality from deep - helping find runners ahead of him in dangerous attacking positions.

With Bayern under pressure, Kane drops deep unmarked. He is then able to turn quickly and find winger Michael Olise running into space

When Bayern played the ball back, that would entice opposing teams defending deep to step up the pitch as a unit.

Kane then dropping back to show for the ball did one of two things:

If a centre-back followed or marked him tightly, it would free up space in the heart of defence for other players to run into.

If a defender was reluctant to follow him deep, Kane was the free man, able to provide his side with an overload in midfield, with time to turn and pick a dangerous pass.

Tuchel has surrounded Harry Kane with wingers and attacking midfielders - plus a left-back in Nico O'Reilly - who excel when it comes to running into forward positions, looking to finish off moves in the spaces that open up

Champions League winners Paris St-Germain have similarly used Ousmane Dembele in this roaming false nine role to much success, posing difficulties for teams looking to man-mark.

Bayern, with Luis Diaz, and PSG with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, used high-energy right-footed left wingers to attack the space that opened up centrally when their strikers dropped deep. Diaz scored 26 goals during the season, Kvaratskhelia 19.

Tuchel has understandably opted for the same profile of left-winger at this World Cup in Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford.

With both Bayern and Paris St-Germain finding success using this approach in the Champions League, it appears a viable tactic against high-level opposition and one England will adopt against stronger nations too.

Against PSG, Kane dropped deep. Marquinhos did not follow - which gave Kane time and space to play a long ball for left-winger Luis Diaz running in behind, resulting in a goal. Tuchel will hope for the same dynamic between Kane and one of Marcus Rashford or Anthony Gordon

All of this helps explain why Kane's movements when dropping deep improve his side's general play.