Hodgson warns team of Krakow temptations

KRAKOW, Poland — After complaining about boredom at their isolated World Cup base in South Africa two years ago, England arrived Wednesday for the European Championship and will stay next to one of the continent’s largest medieval squares.

Players trying to sleep after being drained by training or matches will have to contend with the noise from dozens of bars and restaurants in Krakow, as well as an hourly bugle call.

“For sure it’s not a peaceful and quiet and empty city. This is a city full of energy and full of life,” said Deputy Mayor Magdalena Sroka.

It is far removed from the remote base in Rustenburg at the 2010 World Cup, where England was far from the nearest town centre with little outlet for players to enjoy their downtime.

This time, the English Football Association is creating a more relaxed environment for the players, who are encouraged to be “good tourists” by not being cut off in a hotel.

“You can never replicate the home environment but, in terms of being free to go for a coffee or to the shops, we should embrace it, even though it has never been done before,” England goalkeeper Joe Hart said. “We’re looking forward to staying in a central location and getting out and about to embrace the local culture.”

In a narrow side street off the main square, hundreds of England fans chanted — mainly at the rival Irish fans in town — as the team bus brought the 23 players to their hotel on Wednesday.

England coach Roy Hodgson has issued his squad with a code of conduct and warned them not to imitate their rugby counterparts’ drunken off- field antics at last year’s World Cup in New Zealand, where warnings against overindulgence went unheeded as the players’ conduct on nights out left the team in turmoil.