WINGS & A PRAYER
Three Lions flying high as they arrive for World Cup bid With an average age of 26, nation’s hopes rest on youth
ENGLAND’S young squad were on a high last night as they finally flew in to Russia to begin their quest for World Cup glory.
And if they look anything as sharp on the pitch as they did in their suits for the official team photo, we could be in for an exciting time.
Gareth Southgate’s boys landed at Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg on a Three Lions GainJet Boeing 737-400 before heading for the ForRestMix Club hotel in the quiet town of Repino 35 miles away, where they will be based.
Despite being one of our most inexperienced squads ever at a World Cup, with an average age of 26 years and 18 days, captain Harry Kane and his team-mates looked relaxed as they posed for pictures inside the plane.
But Southgate ditched the traditional, formal 23-man squad photo on the steps of the plane, in keeping with his more relaxed approach to the contest, which kicks off tomorrow.
Instead, the FA released an official picture of the staff and players wearing their £413 M&S navy three-piece suits, light blue shirts, silk, striped ties and black leather brogues.
Defender Kyle Walker later tweeted: “Reservoir Dogs”, alluding to the sharply dressed characters in the film.
But on the aeroplane, the 58-strong party boarded wearing England tracksuits and T-shirts.
The smiles on the players’ faces as they posed for pictures showed a team that is clearly relaxed and looking forward to getting on with the task of bringing home the World Cup for the first time since 1966.
They begin that quest with their first game on Monday, against Tunisia. Liver- pool’s Trent AlexanderArnold, at 19 the youngest in the England squad, revealed in an Instagram post that club team-mate Jordan Henderson, 27, was the table tennis champ.
Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard, 25, and Marcus Rashford, 20, posted the message: “Time to show the world what we are all about.”
Lingard revealed that he was taking eight toothbrushes, a laptop, Beats headphones, aftershave, piles of Ralph Lauren boxer shorts and blister packs in anticipation of England making it out of the group stages. He wrote: “Packing for a long time that’s how you know we are going to go far.” He clearly has not been checking the weather forecast, as he added: “Is it hot in Russia?” The answer, though, is yes. When England play their opening match, the temperature is expected to be 33C. Despite the lack of a formal photo on
the jet’s steps, Spurs pair Eric Dier, 24, and Danny Rose, 27, made their own as they climbed aboard it arm in arm.
Inside the cabin, Kane, 24, Kieran Trippier, 27, Nick Pope, 26, Jamie Vardy, 31, John Stones and Jordan Pickford, both 24, Harry Maguire, 25, and Walker, 28, had a group shot.
It is the third youngest World Cup England squad, behind the sides of 1958 (25 years, 81 days) and 2006 (25 years, 286 days).
Shortly after touching down, Southgate said: “We hope we can send people to work the following day having enjoyed our matches.
“To lead England as a manager is an incredibly proud moment. I will take a brief moment to take it in and then prepare for the matches we have got and the task starts from when we get to the hotel.”
Southgate himself chose the ForRestMix Club hotel, where rooms cost as little as £35 a night, because of its quiet location.
The team last night settled in to their new home with the help of computer games, Netflix – and Love Island.
On the subject of love, it appears the players will not be deprived as WAGs are allowed to see them – on days after matches.
The FA hope to fit in sightseeing trips to St Petersburg, where most of their families will stay. Manchester City’s Fabian Delph, 28, has been given permission to fly home after our final group game against Belgium, as wife Natalie is due to have their third child on June 30. Officials sent an “advance party”, including cooks and cyber experts, to Repino to prepare for the squad’s arrival. Two chefs arrived last week at the team hotel, hired exclusively by the FA at a cost of around £250,000. Bosses shipped in gym equipment and contributed towards the cost of an outdoor pool to help with post-match recovery.
The players have new laptops and phones, and will not use public wi-fi over hacking and security concerns.
Their hotel was patrolled by police and soldiers as they arrived.
Figures released yesterday suggest the cost of hosting the tournament has risen to more than £10billion, making it football’s most expensive competition ever.
It had been estimated the bill would be £8.2billion, according to the RBC business portal.
The biggest costs are transport infrastructure at £4.5billion, stadium construction £2.55billion and £507million on accommodation.
The official budget for the contest has been amended 12 times.
President Vladimir Putin said: “We spent a lot of money and we need to make sure that all this infrastructure works first and foremost for the development of sport.”
To lead England as a boss is an incredibly proud moment GARETH SOUTHGATE ENGLAND MANAGER