England striker Ollie Watkins, speaking ahead of the World Cup 2026 match against Ghana, praised the squad's depth after all five substitutes made an impact against Croatia, with Rashford, Foden and Rogers adding pace and goals threat late on. On Bukayo Saka's fitness, Watkins confirmed the winger has not missed a single day of training despite his Achilles issue, calling him a crucial player who makes the right decision every time he gets the ball.

He defended Jeremy Doku's decision to fly home for the birth of his first child, saying he would have done the same and that what players do after training is nobody else's business. Regarding Ghana, Watkins said Tuchel focuses primarily on England's own game but has flagged Antoine Semenyo as a genuine threat, with more detailed opponent analysis planned for the day before the match.

He described Harry Kane, who equalled England's World Cup goals record against Croatia, as a uniquely intelligent footballer whose style cannot be replicated. Watkins also revealed that mentoring sessions with Michael Owen helped him become mentally tougher and less passive on the pitch in the latter part of the season.

Tuchel was characterised as a demanding coach who is not afraid to shout in training but is relaxed and calm around the base camp. Watkins called this World Cup potentially the most exciting he has witnessed, noting teams are regularly scoring four or five goals rather than playing the cautious football typical of previous tournaments.