England secured a second victory in as many days, defeating Sporting KC 5-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Thursday. The Three Lions continued their preparations following a 4-2 win over Croatia just 24 hours earlier.
Opportunity for Non-Starters
The match provided a chance for players who did not feature against Croatia to stake their claim for a place in Tuesday's game against Ghana. Striker Ivan Toney made the most of his minutes, netting a hat-trick. Aston Villa stars Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins also found the back of the net.
This is the second consecutive behind-closed-doors match in which Toney has scored a hat-trick. He previously achieved the feat against Miami FC before the World Cup began.
Mixed Minutes for Players
Marc Guehi, who earned minutes against Croatia, also featured in the training ground game. The Manchester City defender replaced John Stones three minutes before full-time. Other players reported to have played on Thursday include Eberechi Eze and Dan Burn.
The result serves as another boost for manager Thomas Tuchel, who added another member to his squad. The German coach, who threw a ceremonial first pitch at the Kansas City Royals game on Thursday, saw Trevoh Chalobah arrive to bolster his numbers.
Chalobah Called Up
The Chelsea defender was called up following an injury to Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento. The former Southampton ace saw his World Cup dreams end after picking up a problem in training. Chalobah arrives as a central defender who can also play on the right, rather than as a direct replacement for Livramento.
The decision prompted surprise from some, including former England striker Wayne Rooney. "It's a bit strange," Rooney said. "I would have liked to have seen Luke Shaw. And then Djed Spence maybe being cover for Reece James and Luke Shaw come in. But I'm sure Thomas Tuchel has kept contact with players to stay available and I'm sure he [Chalobah] was one of those who was available."
Upgrade Your World Cup Viewing
Sky is offering a 20% discount on its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that's 'designed for football' from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.
