Youthful England intent on enjoying the ride at World Cup

With indie music blaring out around the training complex, England’s players strolled out for their first World Cup practice session in Russia and were soon bestowed with a large tea urn and a loaf of bread as symbols of local hospitality.

Later, they would joke around and take selfies with school children from the local area - Zelenogorsk, just outside St. Petersburg - who waved England flags as their idols trained in front of them.

About the same time Wednesday at the other end of Russia, Spain fired its coach and was starting the World Cup seemingly in turmoil. For England, nothing of the sort. In fact, rarely has an England squad come to a major soccer tournament with such a relaxed and easygoing attitude.

“I think that’s how we’ve wanted to make it as a team,” England striker Jamie Vardy said, “nice and relaxed and enjoyable, where we can have a laugh and a giggle.”

The real business begins Monday, when England plays Tunisia in Volgograd in its first group game. For the country which invented the game and which is without an international title in 52 years, the expectation is usually nearly intolerable.

But this year, there’s a feeling that the pressure is off and that a relatively inexperienced squad - the second youngest in the competition - is intent on enjoying the ride.

“Personally,” Vardy said, moments after finishing training, “I think when you’re enjoying it more, you play your best football.”

The last sighting of England’s players at a major tournament was in 2016, when they sat on their field in despair and held their heads in their hands after a humiliating Round of 16 loss to tiny Iceland at the European Championship. Two years earlier, the English were eliminated at the group stage of the World Cup in Brazil. More World Cup news, B2