Watkins is incredibly excited to be able to participate in the World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup is about to kick off, and England's "Three Lions" will continue their preparations for this football extravaganza with a friendly match against Costa Rica. Watkins stated that participating in the World Cup is a dream for every child who loves football, and he is incredibly excited about it.

England defeated New Zealand 1-0 in a previous friendly match after Jade Spence assisted Harry Kane's goal.

Aston Villa striker Watkins said, "It's an honor to be called up to the England national team every time, but playing in the World Cup is every kid's dream. Wearing an England jersey when you're a kid, I think that's something all young players aspire to. And in the end, only 26 players can make the final squad, so it's a very difficult achievement, and I'm very excited to be here."

In the 2024 European Championship semi-final, Watkins scored a crucial goal to help England advance to the final. It's worth noting that Watkins also won the Europa League title with Aston Villa in the 2025/26 season, giving him even more confidence for the World Cup.

Reflecting on the goal, Watkins shared, "The feeling of scoring is already wonderful, but to score at such an important moment is even more unforgettable."

"That was the last shot of the 90 minutes of regulation time. At that moment, everyone knew that the team would win the game with this goal, and I was the one who sealed the victory. That feeling was amazing. I often watch that goal again, and if I watched it now, I would still get goosebumps."

In addition, England goalkeeper Dean Henderson said in an interview, "My brother is five years older than me, and I used to play football with his friends a lot. Because I was the youngest, I was always assigned to goal. I would block the ball with my face, diving all over the field, and they all thought I was crazy. I could block those almost impossible shots from kids who were five years older than me. But actually, I was never a goalkeeper."

“When I played for Carlisle United, I played as a right midfielder, and everyone knew I was very fast. Then one day the team's goalkeeper got sick, and I temporarily filled in. As a result, I have almost never left the goal since then. But I think all of this stems from the foundation I built when I was a kid playing with older kids.”

Image source: Internet