Harry Kane's deep positioning is affecting England's attack, with the team needing him to play more as a center forward.
What happened?
England faced off against Croatia, with Kane dropping deep into midfield, a position that didn't quite work for the team.
Kane's movement improved Jude Bellingham's play, with Bellingham making purposeful runs into space that might have been occupied by a striker.
Why it matters for Harry Kane
Kane's tendency to drop deep is not necessarily a bad thing, but when he drops too deep, it loses its efficacy, with Croatia's center backs and midfielders not feeling obliged to track him.
This allowed Croatia to press England, with Kane becoming a pressing trigger for the opposition.
What comes next?
England doesn't need Kane to be that deep, with Elliot Anderson making the team tick, and his pass to Bellingham down the right flank leading to the third goal.
Anderson was excellent against Croatia, with a highlight being his pass to Bellingham that led to the third goal, as recorded by Gradient Sports.
The Nottingham Forest midfielder made four passes to break the Croatia lines, the joint-most of any England player.
Kane's role in the team is crucial, and his positioning will be key in upcoming matches, including the one against Ghana.
England's match against Ghana will be a test for the team, with Kane's positioning being closely watched.
The team needs Kane to play more as a center forward, using his skills to create scoring opportunities.
Kane's skills are undeniable, with him scoring 36 goals in 31 Bundesliga games last season.
But for England, he needs to find the right balance between dropping deep and playing as a center forward.
The World Cup is flying by, with the last of the favorites still to play their second game.
Portugal is also struggling, with an intriguing Colombia side waiting to snatch top spot in Group K.
Croatia needs to get their tournament up and running against Panama.
The pressure is on for England, with Kane's positioning being a key factor in their success.