โอลลี่ วัตกินส์ หลุดจากทีมชาติอังกฤษในการแข่งขันกับลัตเวีย การตัดสินใจนี้สร้างความสนใจในวงการฟุตบอล และเป็นประเด็นที่สื่อกีฬานำเสนออย่างกว้างขวาง

    Ollie Watkins, a key striker for England, has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifier against Latvia due to an injury. Watkins, aged 29, sustained the injury during England's 3-0 victory over Wales, where he scored the second goal but collided with the post in the first half. Despite England coach Thomas Tuchel initially claiming that Watkins was fine, the striker has since returned to Aston Villa for recovery, thus missing the critical match in Riga.

    The absence of Watkins, who made his England debut in 2021 and has scored six goals in 20 appearances, presents a conundrum for the team. However, England remains optimistic about their chances. They will secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup with two games still to play if they manage a win against Latvia. The team is set to play at Daugava Stadium in Riga on Tuesday, 14 October, with kickoff at 19:45 BST. Fans can tune in live via BBC Sounds and Radio 5 Live, or follow the action through live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

    In Watkins' absence, Newcastle's Anthony Gordon, who filled a central role in the match against Wales, is likely to continue in that position in Riga. Another option is Marcus Rashford, on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, who frequently plays centrally despite favoring the left wing. Rashford, with 18 goals for England, is second only to Harry Kane among current squad members.

    As for Harry Kane, the prolific Bayern Munich striker, he missed the Wales match but is expected to feature against Latvia after training with his teammates. This offers a boost to England's attacking lineup, as the team seeks to capitalize on Kane’s proven scoring ability to seal their World Cup qualification.

    Watkins' struggles at the club level have been evident this season, having scored just once in 10 appearances for Aston Villa. Nevertheless, his absence in the national team setup will be felt. England's journey through the World Cup qualifiers continues to captivate fans, with excitement high over the possibility of early qualification. Meanwhile, Aston Villa will face Tottenham on Saturday, 19 October, marking their return to Premier League action following the international break.