Ollie Watkins Optimistic About England World Cup Selection
Ollie Watkins, the forward for Aston Villa, remains hopeful for a place in the England squad for the upcoming World Cup, despite not being called up for the recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. With the season nearing its end, Watkins emphasizes that his focus is on scoring goals to enhance his chances of selection.
Watkins’ Performance and Goals
The 30-year-old player, who has represented England in 20 matches and was part of the team during Euro 2024, found himself omitted from manager Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man squad due to inconsistent performances throughout the season. Nevertheless, since the announcement, he has experienced a resurgence in form, netting four goals in the last four matches, including his milestone 100th goal for Villa in a resounding 4-0 victory over Bologna in the Europa League.
Determined to Prove Himself
Commenting on his efforts to reintegrate into the national team, Watkins told TNT Sports, “Just keep scoring goals. That’s all I can do.” He expressed his disappointment at not being included in the previous squad but acknowledged Tuchel’s decisions and reasons behind them. “I just have to do my talking on the pitch and keep performing well and then score as many as I can come the end of the season,” he added.
Upcoming Matches and World Cup Readiness
England is set to hold warm-up matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica in June, as part of their preparations for the World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The team will kick off their Group L campaign on June 17 against Croatia in Dallas, followed by matches against Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27.
