England

England boss Thomas Tuchel speaking to ITV about the weather: "It gives us a little taste of what can happen in the tournament. We were aware of that before, now we experience it. It’s no problem. It should not be an excuse to lose our mood or patience or to lose our hunger to play the game."

On the delay: "No problem at all. We realised it when we were still at the hotel so it was easy we just said half an hour later in the bus and let’s go."

On whether it's a relief to still have a game: It didn't cross my mind that it was so severe. We were aware that it can be thunder and lightning and some delays but I didn’t think that we would maybe miss the whole game. It seems like we have a game."

On the pitch: "I was out there. It seems quite dry, surprisingly dry for the amount of water that came down but they know what they're doing and it seems good to play."

Conor Coady
Former England defender on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

Can we be over-reliant on Harry Kane?

Yes, of course we can, because he is our main man.

In this country, we seem to do this thing where we have someone who is unbelievable, so let's love him, but we don't. We go...What happens if he gets injured?

Us as English people, I don't understand why we think in a negative way. We always do it. Every single competition.

Let's just enjoy it.

One thing that pretty much all England fans seem to agree on is that without Harry Kane, the Three Lions would be struggling.

He scored the only goal in the narrow win over New Zealand on Saturday to take his tally to 79 goals in 113 games for England.

This season, he has scored 67 goals for club and country and England fans will be hoping he can continue his Bayern Munich form into this tournament.

Image source, Getty Images

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport in New York

Will Jude Bellingham start England's opening World Cup game against Croatia next Wednesday?

The Stourbridge-born midfielder's face appears on a giant billboard smack bang in the middle of New York's iconic Times Square above a sports shop named after Brazil legend Pele.

Pele was 17 when he won the first of his three World Cups.

Will Bellingham, who turns 23 later this month, help lead the Three Lions to glory this summer?

Preparations have continued this week at England's Florida base before they move to Kansas, which will be their home throughout the tournament.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Julien Laurens
ESPN journalist on the Football Daily podcast

We've talked about the number ten position for a long time now, Morgan Rogers or Jude Bellingham.

I think in Thomas Tuchel's mind there are 15 that can start in that 11 [against Croatia], there are positions where you have one favourite and right now I would think it is Rogers - let's say 60 per cent and then there's another option behind him that is Jude Bellingham - let's say 40 per cent. Both can start, of course they can but I think in his mind that's how it works.

Speaking of predictions...

The BBC Sport pundits have been having their say on how they think this World Cup will play out.

From how the home nations will get on to who will win and who might spring a surprise - have a read of their thoughts here.

Image source, BBC Sport

There will be 104 matches at this World Cup, and you can predict them all across the BBC Sport website and app.

Our brand new game gives you the chance to guess the result of each game and build your streak as you return each day.

Players also have the chance to enter a prize draw to win an official World Cup football signed by members of the BBC World Cup team.

Get involved over here

Chris Sutton
Former England forward on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

On England's team for the first group game against Croatia

Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford - that looks like another area where it’s a bit of a toss of the coin. I think Rashford did himself no harm against New Zealand, he looked really sharp but I don't think there are too many areas in the England team that are up for grabs.

I think Tuchel will know his starting eleven bar two, possibly three.

Jermain Defoe
Former England striker on The Wayne Rooney Show

Image source, PA Media

They've got tournament experience now, haven't they? Not only tournament experience, but getting to finals, being close and touching distance.

This group of players have won championships and European titles [with clubs], so the squad have to go into it confident. They have to believe that they can get over the line. They have to believe that they can compete against other nations.

We can sit and talk about France and Argentina, but they'll be talking about England. I'm sure they'll be sitting there talking about England being one of their favourites of course, with the players that we've got.

Thomas Tuchel has insisted that England are not the favourites to lift the World Cup at the end of July.

England have reached two European Championship finals in succession and been tipped to go deep into the tournament in North America.

But the German boss says his side can not be considered favourites.

"If you get to two Euros finals, and reach semi-finals and quarter-finals of the World Cup, then you are there - then you can win it," the 52-year-old said.

"Then maybe it just takes a bit of luck or whatever. I strongly believe we are there, but I also believe we are not the favourites because of the history.

"We see ourselves as competitors and challengers. We want to go all the way but I don't think we are the heavy favourites."

Tuchel continued: "Maybe it's the wrong comparison, but if you go to Wimbledon and haven't won it for 60 years, you're not the favourites - but you can win it, of course. That's what we want to do.

"We know what it takes, and it also requires a calm mindset and focus on our steps. If we want to reach the top of the mountain, we need to start the journey step by step. Otherwise, we'll get distracted.

"I have belief. We all have belief and a dream. But it comes with hard work, responsibility, commitment and discipline - and sometimes disappointment. That's all part of it. But we dare to dream, and that's important."

Image source, Getty Images

Julien Laurens
ESPN journalist on the Football Daily podcast

Some head coaches, like Didier Deschamps decided not to have any friendlies in the United States.

The idea to get match fit is to get used to the heat, humidity and even the stadiums in the US which are different to the ones in Europe.

For Deschamps, he wanted to stay in France and have two friendlies, then they have flown out on Wednesday when they play before England in the World Cup schedule.

Chris Sutton
Former England forward on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

England have to prepare properly, and they could play 11v11 amongst themselves, which they are probably doing anyway.

The fact that 11 changes were made at half-time [against New Zealand], it was all about training and preparation, climatising and getting ready for the first game.

Now the squad has been picked, it is about peaking at the right time.

Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent at Inter&Co Stadium

England’s flight from West Palm Beach to Orlando earlier today was not impacted by the storm that has delayed the start of the game.

The team, thankfully, avoided the adverse conditions and were safely in their hotel well before the storm hit.

This England XI has never played together before.

Pretty incredible, that, with their World Cup opener just days away.

Wayne Rooney on The Wayne Rooney Show

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Tuchel has obviously thought about what squad he's going to pick and why he wants this squad and there'll be reasons why he hasn't taken Cole Palmer or Phil Foden or Harry Maguire and reasons why he's taken other players, but I trust him.

I think he's a top manager, he knows what's at stake and he's picked a squad who he thinks can compete to win the World Cup. It's controversial and I would have made a couple of different decisions than he has, but that's why he’s England manager, he is there to make these decisions. We just have to back him.