- Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins were both on the scoresheet in England’s behind closed doors friendly against Kansas City
- The match consisted of two 25-minutes halves
- 13 players featured, mostly consisting of those who didn’t play against Croatia
Aston Villa duo Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins both scored as England thrashed MLS side Sporting Kansas City 5-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Thursday afternoon.
The secret practice match took place at England’s Swope Soccer Village training facility in Kansas City, 24 hours after the Three Lions opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas.
To keep the momentum high and build match sharpness, manager Thomas Tuchel arranged the training fixture specifically for squad members who did not start or play significant minutes in the Group L opener.
Toney, Rogers and Watkisn drive England forward
The training match consisted of two 25-minute halves, creating a fast-paced, high-intensity environment. Brentford striker Ivan Toney scored another hat-trick, having done so in England’s previous behind-closed-doors friendly.
Both Watkins and Rogers featured prominently in the forward line. They successfully replicated their fine club form under Unai Emery to break down the American side. Rogers only made a brief 19-minute cameo off the bench against Croatia, whilst Watkins was not utilised at all.
Maintaining fitness in camp
With an long tournament ahead in North America, keeping fringe players sharp is a key component of Tuchel’s tactical strategy. Only 13 total outfield players took part in the training match, with the regular starters from Wednesday’s win undergoing standard recovery sessions.
Alongside the Villa duo, Eberechi Eze, Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, and Kobbie Mainoo all gained valuable minutes on the pitch to keep their match fitness at peak level.
Looking ahead to Ghana
The goalscoring displays from Toney, Watkins and Rogers couldn’t have come at a better time for the Three Lions. England have a brief hiatus before returning to official tournament action against Ghana on Tuesday evening in Boston.
Having attackers firing in front of goal, sends a massive message to Tuchel regarding squad rotation. As the physical demands of a summer World Cup intensify, rotating the squad will be paramount to ensure key players can remain fit for the duration of the tournament.
