Image source, Getty Images

Which leads us back to this question.

Harry Kane might be the first name on the England team sheet but the biggest problem is who could replace him?

Let's take a look at Thomas Tuchel's centre-forward options:

Ollie Watkins: Appearances - 20 Goals - 6

Watkins made his England debut in 2021 and netted six times in 20 appearances, including hitting the winner in England's Euros 2024 semi-final win over the Netherlands. The forward has struggled at club level this term, netting just once in 10 games.

Marcus Rashford: Appearances - 65 Goals - 18

So far this season, the Manchester United man, on loan at Barcelona, has three goals in 10 appearances. The 27-year-old has experience on his side. Rashford has 18 goals for England - the most after Kane in Tuchel's current squad.

Dominic Solanke: Appearances - 3 Goals - 0

Tottenham's record signing Solanke has yet to be called up to a Tuchel England squad and is another striker battling an injury. The 28-year-old has managed just 31 minutes of Premier League football this season.

Liam Delap: Appearances - 0 Goals - 0

A summer move to Chelsea may have seen Delap have one eye on the World Cup. However, three games into the season he tore his hamstring and has yet to make his international debut.

Ivan Toney: Appearances - 7 Goals - 1

The 29-year-old was used as an impact sub during Euro 2024, assisting Kane's extra-time winner in the last 16 and scoring his spot-kick in the shootout in the quarter-finals. Toney's last match for England was a two-minute cameo in a 3-1 defeat by Senegal in June.

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There are few 'guarantees' when it comes to selecting a squad for a major tournament, injuries could prove disruptive over the course of the season, but there are some players who are highly likely to get their place in Thomas Tuchel's squad.

Harry Kane: Appearances - 109

The England captain is arguably the first name on the team sheet for the Three Lions. His six goals at the World Cup in 2018 won him the Golden Boot and helped England to a first semi-final in 28 years. The 32-year-old is the country's all-time leading goalscorer and has played at five major tournaments.

Jordan Pickford: Appearances - 79

As important as Kane is, Pickford has been England's number one at the last four major tournaments and has played a huge role in the development of the national team in recent years. His experience will no doubt prove crucial next summer, not to mention the fact he's saved four penalties in major tournament shootouts - more on his England form in a moment.

Declan Rice: Appearances - 69

Rice was captain in the absence of Kane against Wales last week and is another significant leader on the pitch for England. The 26-year-old is entering the peak of his career and has been a part of the England squad for the past three major tournaments.

Image source, Getty Images

More on that Kane question in a moment, but first we are going to ask you to step into England manager Thomas Tuchel's shoes.

He still has time to decide who will be on the plane for next summer's World Cup, should his side qualify for the tournament tonight.

Fifa are yet to confirm squad sizes for next summer, but for the 2022 tournament in Qatar they increased the limit to 26.

The change was largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with previous years only allowing squad of 23 players.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

An injury to a key player seems to be part and parcel of England's build-up to any major tournament.

It's about this time that England fans become experts in obscure body parts, such as metatarsals.

As part of this Three Lions tradition, the injured player is often a key member of the squad.

With such a vast array of talent to choose from, Thomas Tuchel could probably point to a ready-made replacement in almost every position.

But as Chris Sutton said, take Harry Kane out of the side and England are suddenly viewed in a very different light.

With that in mind, we asked you to ponder: If not Kane, then who else?

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Jack: I know we have a decent record in international competitions of late, but we still have problems creating and scoring against better teams. I feel Tuchel is still not sure of his best line-up. We seem to play quicker and more freely without Kane but lack goal threat. What do you think?

Afternoon Jack. I suspect in his own mind Thomas Tuchel is very close to formulating most (if not all) of his best line-up, but there is no reason why he needs to know his best side yet and there is still plenty of time to study all of his options.

I was asked earlier what would be my England team for the first World Cup game if the tournament started next week. As an example, I picked Elliott Anderson but I can’t get away from the fact that I think Adam Wharton could also be an outstanding international.

As for Kane, Chris Sutton said last week that if the Bayern Munich striker quit international football today you would immediately view England in a totally different light. England are better for having Harry Kane. As might be discovered if he is ever injured for any length of time.

Paul Birch
BBC Sport

If England avoid defeat tonight in Latvia it will extend their unbeaten run in World Cup qualifiers to 37 matches and would lift the Three Lions into outright second on the all-time Uefa list.

However, they are still a long way off catching Spain, who went an incredible 66 World Cup qualifiers without a loss between 1993 and 2021. Their run of 52 wins and 14 draws was finally ended by Sweden.

England last lost a qualifying match for a World Cup back in October 2009 against Ukraine and have won 28 and drawn eight of their 36 games since.

They have only lost a total of four World Cup qualifiers in the past 30 years, while their last defeat in a Euros qualifier was away at Czech Republic in October 2019.

Belgium are not far behind England, their victory over Wales last night took them to 34 World Cup qualifiers without defeat.

If you include the European Championship, their unbeaten streak in qualifiers across the two tournaments is a very impressive 56 games dating back to 2015.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

As you can see, questions are already being put to Phil about England's participation in the 2026 World Cup, as if they are already there.

It certainly feels more like a case of "when" rather than "if", especially considering England's recent record in qualifiers - more on that in a minute.

Before we check out that record, have a read of this post from earlier, which explains what England need from their final three matches to secure automatic qualification...

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Nick: How much do you think the heat will impact on England's chances at the World Cup next summer? I think back to Shizouka in 2002 when the players were running on empty in the second half against Brazil, even against 10 men.

Tell me about it, Nick. I was in Shizuoka covering that game for the BBC. To say it was hot and humid is putting it mildly. It was incredibly uncomfortable just watching. England’s cause was not helped by David Beckham being clearly unfit as well.

I am sure preparation techniques and data have moved on a fair bit since then so I'm pretty certain Thomas Tuchel and his sports scientists will be absorbing every piece of information.

Other European teams will also have to adapt.

If England do not perform, I do not believe it will be down to the climate.

Right, we are up to speed on the European qualifying groups, so let's return to England, team selection and our Q&A with BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty.

Phil has been flying through your questions, so make sure you keep sending them in to us using the Get Involved button.

Just joining us? Let's take a look at some of what you've missed so far:

• Is Thomas Tuchel getting the balance right?
• England lacking up top
• Phil's current starting XI
• 'A lot can happen between now and the World Cup'

We have also brought you the latest from the England camp as Harry Kane is declared fit to start by Tuchel, who has also challenged Marcus Rashford to reach his full potential.

In other news, four England fans have been arrested in Riga ahead of tonight's match.

And Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres are involved in a real struggle to qualify with Sweden.

Wales

Wales went into last night's match at home to Belgium knowing that victory in their final three games would secure top spot in Group J and automatic qualification.

They took the lead through Joe Rodon's seventh-minute header, but their lead was wiped out by Kevin de Bruyne's controversial penalty and the visitors took the lead through a hammer blow from Thomas Meunier.

Another penalty from De Bruyne in the second half and fourth goal from Arsenal's Leandro Trossard, either side of a fine strike from Wales' Nathan Broadhead sealed a 4-2 win for Belgium.

Wales' hopes of qualifying for the World Cup now rest largely on securing a play-off spot.

North Macedonia were held at home by Kazakhstan, meaning the two sides are now left in a shootout for second place, should Belgium finish top of the group.

Next up for Wales is a trip to bottom side Liechtenstein.

Win that and their final game at home to North Macedonia will be a winner-takes-all-match at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Tom: Phil, do you think the Euros qualification would benefit from the new Champions League format? Feels like it would lead to more exciting matches against the better European nations, less friendlies, quicker playoffs etc.

Hello, Tom. I can certainly see why such a move would be considered because there is a danger too many of the qualifiers are simply very routine these days. It would need a lot of thinking through, though, purely because of the number of countries involved.

Germany

It was a memorable night for Newcastle United's record signing Nick Woltemade in Belfast.

The £69m signing from Stuttgart is finding his feet in the Premier League and his goal against Northern Ireland - however fortunate the final touch - will be a pleasurable sight for Magpies fans.

Germany now top Group A on goal difference, with games against Luxembourg and Slovakia to come in the November international break.

Take a look for yourself... sometimes it doesn't matter how they go in, as long as they go in!

Northern Ireland

There were a lot of "what if" moments in the air around Windsor Park as fans headed home after watching Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade score the only goal in Germany's 1-0 win over Northern Ireland on Monday.

Michael O'Neill's side had impressed so vividly on Friday night in an assured and confident 2-0 win over Slovakia.

What if they could do the same against the four-time World Cup winners?

Defeat on Monday came down to small margins.

An offside call as Dan Ballard had a goal chalked off, a chance falling to young prospect Callum Marshall on his weaker foot and the absence of Conor Bradley for what many described as a soft yellow card on Friday.

O'Neill said the team were "disappointed" and described the loss as "sore" as their unbeaten home run of seven came to an end, with his side targeting second place in Group A and a place in the play-offs.

This result leaves them in third, three points behind Germany and Slovakia with two games to play.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Charlie: What does Phil McNulty put Sweden’s under-performance down to? Surely it’s not just to do with Isak’s relative lack of fitness!

Hello, Charlie. You certainly can’t just pin the blame on Alexander Isak.

If you’re looking on the bright side they can still reach the play-offs, but it is clear there is an overall collapse of confidence and you must now wonder about the position of coach Jon Dahl Tomasson after they have lost three of their four qualifiers.

It is mystifying when you can see that Sweden can field two strikers of the calibre of Isak and Viktor Gyokores.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

There are one or two other familiar names in that Sweden side.

Aston Villa's Viktor Lindelof added experience to a three-man defence in Monday's line-up against Kosovo, while Tottenham midfielder Lukas Bergvall was one of the few players who came out of the match with any credit.

Interestingly, Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga did not start the defeat to Kosovo, left out of the 3-5-2 system, but he was one of three substitutes to be introduced as part of a triple change after half time.

Image source, Getty Images

Both may be struggling for their national team, but is this a problem that stretches beyond their World Cup qualification campaign?

Having made big money moves in the summer, Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres and Liverpool striker Alexander Isak came into the season surrounded by high expectations.

On the face of it, the stats really do not read well:

Viktor Gyokeres

• Games - 10
• Goals - 3
• Assists - 1
• Minutes played - 752

Alexander Isak

• Games - 6
• Goals - 1
• Assists - 1
• Minutes played - 312

Gyokeres has four goal involvements, but has not scored in a month for Arsenal.

Things are a little different for Isak, who is still fighting for full fitness, but he is yet to score in the Premier League for Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images

Although they are only ranked 32nd in the world, Sweden had high hopes before the start of this World Cup qualification campaign.

Boasting two of the most expensive strikers in world football - Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres - many backed them to top Group B.

However, after four games they are bottom of their qualifying group with just one point, having only scored two goals in four games.

Monday night's 1-0 defeat against Kosovo has left qualification looking highly unlikely.

Sweden's World Cup qualification results:

• Slovenia 2-2 Sweden
• Kosovo 2-0 Sweden
• Sweden 0-2 Switzerland
• Sweden 0-1 Kosovo

The Swedes must now win their final two group games and hope results go their way in order to secure a spot in the play-offs.

Plenty of Europe's biggest sides sit top of their World Cup qualifying groups.

England, Spain, Portugal and Norway all boast 100% records so far, with the likes of France, Netherlands and Belgium also undefeated.

The expanded 48-team format for next year's tournament has made qualification easier, with 16 countries - 12 group winners and four from the play-offs - qualifying from Europe.

But there remains some sides who have underperformed so far, and also plenty who are still plotting their way to the World Cup.

Let's take a look at the state of play...

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Feel free to also pepper Phil with any follow-up questions on his team selection, using the Get Involved button.

While you are all thinking about your starting XIs and World Cup squads, we are going to quickly assess some of the qualifying stories from outside England's group...

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

This is another talking point we are going to return to later:

Who would make your England squad for the World Cup - should they qualify - and who would be in your starting XI?

Would your starting XI differ to Phil's selection? If so, which players would you replace, who would you replace them with and why?

Again, feel free to send us your suggestions and we will publish a selection.