Overview
- Harry Kane arrives at the World Cup after scoring 61 goals for Bayern Munich this season and told ITV that this tournament is probably his best and possibly last chance to win with England.
- England finished their warm-up programme with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica in Orlando and will open their group against Croatia in Arlington, Texas.
- Former England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink urged managers to limit Kane’s minutes to avoid burnout and identified a core group — Declan Rice, John Stones, Bukayo Saka and Reece James — who must be kept fit.
- The Three Lions travel with a 26-man squad that includes Jude Bellingham and other high-performing stars, a depth that helps make England one of the favourites and strengthens Kane’s Ballon d’Or credentials.
- How Thomas Tuchel rotates players and protects key men across the expanded 48-team format could shape England’s path in the tournament and the players’ fitness for a possible long run.