Alex Howell

Senior football reporter @bbcsport. Follow my work here:

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

Ollie Watkins was asked about the criticism of Jeremy Doku for saying he wants to leave the Belgium camp for the birth of his first child.

Doku's wife Shireen is due to give birth during the second week of July. His intention to be with her has brought criticism from some.

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

In this Reece James also said it's boring how people focus on his fitness. ""People always talk about injuries and availability, and to me it's so boring now. I have one job, which is to be the best I can when I'm on the pitch. To be honest, I understand the stigma at the start, but after a while it gets boring." #CFC

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

Declan Rice says he feels like he will get an assist every time he takes a corner and that England fans should be "excited" for what is to come at the World Cup 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #AFC
https://t.co/0aZBZmdg8m

[Match of the Day @BBCMOTD]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Why has Thomas Tuchel been wearing a hood in training?

It's all to do with trying out some new technology...

#FifaWorldCup

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

Declan Rice says he feels like he will get an assist every time he takes a corner and that England fans should be "excited" for what is to come at the World Cup 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #AFC
https://t.co/0aZBZmdg8m

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

These are the sun protection hoodies the England staff are using to keep cool during training

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

Thomas Tuchel is VERY involved in training...🗣️

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

England manager Thomas Tuchel and his backroom staff are using sun protection hoodies to keep cool during training in the Kansas City sun.
https://t.co/V0Rj5ZaduK. .

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

Bukayo Saka the only player to not join in team training as he works on an individual programme inside England's training base in Kansas City. Tuchel has said that he will be closer to starting a game towards the end of the group stage.

https://t.co/1hxRwQGvLZ

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

Only Bukayo Saka who is not training on the pitch today. Saka is doing an individual programme. No new issue but just managing where he is fitness wise. Tuchel has said he will be nearer to starting a game by the third group match. First time we will see Trevoh Chalobah on the pitch since he joined up too.

[Zlatan Ibrahimović @Ibra_official]

The studio will never forget

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

Late in putting this out but the England team had some downtime at baseball team Kansas City Royals with Tuchel throwing the first ceremonial pitch.
https://t.co/kRFdyemMaA

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

England training at their rainy Kansas City base

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

A banner has been put up by England supporters which is next to the training base “No more years of hurt”.

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

13 England players playing in the behind closed door friendly against Sporting KC. Djed Spence, Marc Guehi and Morgan Rogers are the only players involved who played minutes in yesterday’s game. The rest are unused subs. Trevoh Chalobah is here but not playing in the game

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

"It ruined, a little bit, my experience today"

Thomas Tuchel has asked Fifa to move the photographer position during the national anthem.

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

Player ratings as England beat Croatia in their opening game of the World Cup 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
https://t.co/6AnI5D1OwX

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

I’m in a fanzone watching the game in Kansas City and the game has currently been knocked off top spot for a tornado warning

[England @England]

Your #ThreeLions to take on Croatia! 👊

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

My question to Bukayo Saka about what it’s been like pushing himself with his Achilles issue and he says it’s been a “gamble” but he’s going to keep doing it #AFC

[Connor Humm @TikiTakaConnor]

Bukayo Saka admits he’s been gambling with his fitness throughout last season and will continue to do so: “I think when you have that success and you taste it, you want to do it again. It can go two ways, but when I speak for myself, I'd say it's definitely made me want to do it again and come into this tournament with even more hunger.”

@iamAlexHowell: “Your fitness, how has that been? Has that been frustrating for you, maybe people watching, not knowing what you're pushing yourself to do? And have you had to learn more about yourself, how to play, when maybe you're not 100%?”

Saka: “Yeah, but I think as players, you know, It's the biggest gamble, especially if you're not feeling your sharpest, you have the choice whether you don't play or you put yourself out there knowing that people are going to judge you the same.

“And at the end of the day, people don't really care how you're feeling. They expect you to deliver, they expect you to perform. And yeah, I'm happy to take that gamble and it paid off, I'd say. And I'm going to continue doing that. But like I said, I'm feeling a lot better than I did in March and I'm ready to go.”

[Alex Howell @iamAlexHowell]

Thomas Tuchel has said that he is "not ready to adapt" England's playing style despite the heat in the USA.
https://t.co/rDeZ8wdESf