OUR BOYS HAVE ALREADY HIT THE NET!
Not in training, they’re playing video game Fortnite online for hours – just like young fans
THEY’VE been working hard on the training pitch ahead of their opening World Cup match tonight.
And it seems some of the England squad have been sharpening up their shooting skills off the pitch too.
A Daily Mail investigation has revealed the extraordinary number of games of Fortnite some England footballers have played since arriving in Russia.
Defender Kieran Trippier last week revealed around nine of the squad were ‘mad about’ the video game.
Launched just 11 months ago, Fortnite has already attracted 50million players.
In the popular Battle Royale version, 100 players fight to the death on an island using weapons including crossbows, rifles and grenade launchers.
The popularity of Fortnite in the England camp is unlikely to delight parents, with many complaining their children have been playing the game to excess.
Since arriving in Russia, captain Harry Kane, 24 – username hkane93 – has played 110 Fortnite matches, according to our analysis. England and Tottenham Hotspur teammate Dele Alli has been similarly glued. Using the name Delstroyer14, the 22-yearold played 14 matches on their first evening in Russia followed by another 29 on the second, Wednesday.
On Thursday night he played another 13. Right-back Trippier, who also plays his club football at Spurs, took part in 17 matches on Wednesday evening.
The following night Trippier, using the name Kierantrip2, played 15 more, apparently playing more sessions on Friday and Saturday. Since arriving in Russia on Tuesday, Alli has apparently completed 82 matches and Trippier 55.
Matches typically last between five and 20 minutes.
Last night addiction expert Steve Pope said he was concerned that spending so much time glued to a screen would hamper their performances.
‘ These are elite players because they’re competitive perfectionists and they take that into Fortnite because they’re born winners – it’s all about win, win, win,’ he said.
‘But it has a debilitating effect on them the following day. If they’re sitting in one place for long periods there’s the risk of muscle cramps. Then there’s the risk of eye strain and blurred vision from staring at a screen.’
Mr Pope, a psychotherapist who has worked with footballers, added: ‘Smaller amounts of playing can relax them and take their minds off being in a high pressure tournament. It’s when they play for extended periods that it becomes a problem.’
Last week the Mail told how a nine-year- old girl had become so obsessed with Fortnite that she secretly started staying up all night, glued to her Xbox.
She is now recovering after sessions with Mr Pope.
‘Footballers have a responsibility,’ he said. ‘Kids are always going to think that if a big star like Harry Kane or Dele Alli is doing it then it must be OK.
‘But if teenagers are spending too much time on games like Fortnite then it affects their performance at school.’ Kane and Alli have previously shared live footage of themselves playing against England defender Harry Maguire online, while fellow teammate Eric Dier is also said to be a fan.
Speaking on Thursday, Trippier, 27, said the game kept the squad entertained at their base in Repino near St Petersburg.
‘We’ve got a basketball court in there, pool tables, table tennis, Fortnite – which the lads are mad about,’ he said.
Asked which game had been the most competitive, Trippier added: ‘It’s Fortnite, to be honest. We’ve got about nine players who play it. It’s exciting. We have a lot of banter.’
Representatives for the FA declined to comment.
England line up to face Tunisia this evening.
‘The lads are mad about it’