Qatar 2022: Why England can’t win without Kane – Arsenal legend Merson

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has told England captain Harry Kane that the Tottenham striker should have excused himself from playing in the group stages of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Merson said that Kane should have dropped himself during the World Cup group stages, insisting that the striker now ‘lacks sharpness’ going into the business end of the tournament.
The Tottenham striker, who is the second-highest goalscorer in the Premier League, has started all three of England’s Group B matches in Qatar.
This is despite some concerns over the striker’s fitness and form.
Kane has not scored a goal in the ongoing tournament, although he has supplied three assists.
England face Senegal in the last 16 of the World Cup on Sunday and Merson is concerned by their captain’s sharpness.
“Harry Kane would have benefited from sitting out against the USA or Wales,” Merson told the Daily Star. “He is now seriously lacking sharpness.
According to Merson, Kane’s assists to the other players are not just enough as the Tottenham star is required to fire on all cylinders to help Gareth Southgate’s side win the World Cup.
“There is simply no chance Gareth Southgate’s side will win the tournament without Kane in the goals,” he maintained.
Merson feels that Kane is not even in the right form for the game against Senegal and should easily tell the coach that he cannot play.