Harry Kane and his need to "make sharper movements in the box". Report from Dortmund.

Harry Kane has admitted he needs to “make sharper movements in the box”. Kane’s positioning in England’s five games here has been the subject of much debate, ranging from whether he is dropping too deep to whether his movement is too sluggish. It’s a debate about systems, form, fitness and quality of service and understudies. It’s a debate that could define England’s ambitions in their European Championship semi-final against the Netherlands at Westfalenstadion here in Dortmund on Wednesday.

Many subjects were covered in today’s match-day -1 media conference with Kane and Gareth Southgate including whether Luke Shaw was fit to start (yes but Southgate also praised “important” Kieran Trippier), whether referee Felix Zwayer’s history with Jude Bellingham was an issue (“no concerns” said Southgate) and the chance of a first overseas final for England (“this is now the chance to make history”, said Southgate).

But getting Kane to click into top gear and play high up the field should be highest on England’s agenda. When England reached the final of Euro 2020, Kane excelled during the knockout stage, scoring against Germany, Ukraine and Denmark. England inevitably look best when a platform is built for Kane, and also when he’s higher up the field. England need Kane but they don’t need him dropping deep.

Southgate shifted to a 3-4-2-1 system against the Swiss in the quarter-final to match them up and also to have Bellingham and Phil Foden playing more inside as joint 10s which should have kept Kane higher. He still dropped deep. “There are times where just the rhythm of the game…Jude or Phil might be in the middle and I might drift out, maybe the left 10,” he explained.

‘’There will be times tomorrow where I need to be more of a focal point and be in the box more and make sharper movements in the box. There will be times where I drop deep and try to make it uncomfortable for defenders coming into areas they don't want to be in.”

Kane indicated that he would continue mixing his game, 9 and 10. “Of course as the striker you want to try and give as much space as possible to your midfielders, to the No 10s, but then there's times you want to drag defenders out into spaces they might not want to come either. Like with my game always, I try to see how the game evolves, what the team needs from me, and exploit those situations.”