Roy treats squad to ‘paradise island’
England’s World Cup squad will spend their last week of preparation before arriving in Brazil at a hotel on the exclusive Brickell Key in Miami.
England’s five-star Mandarin Oriental base is situated downtown on a 44-acre man-made gated island described as a unique paradise community. The hotel, with views of Biscayne Bay, the atlantic Ocean and the Miami skyline, and complete with a private beach made with 260 tons of sand imported from Orlando, contrasts with the isolated boot camps favoured by former England manager Fabio Capello.
England will be playing matches against Ecuador and Honduras, as well as acclimatising to the heat, during eight days of luxury living.
and the set-up will be appreciated by the squad far more than the conditions favoured by Capello’s regime.
However, England manager Roy Hodgson will not want his squad to embrace such specialities as the azul restaurant’s Hennessy Timeless Cognac, which sells for $450 a shot — although the millionaire footballers could well afford it.
RUGBY
UNION faces a pivotal 24 hours, with the high command of English Premiership Rugby adamant tomorrow is the deadline to sort out the European club competition impasse before they go their own way. After talks this week — kicking off with a meeting at Heathrow last Monday — there is renewed confidence the four home nations will agree to take part in the proposed Champions Cup, even if France might take longer to get on board. UK sPORT are expecting a minimum of three medals from Team gB at the Winter Olympics. so the British Olympic association seem optimistic in sending former RFU media chief Richard Prescott (right) to Russia with the job title of ‘managing victory’, which might well keep him under-employed in sochi.
NIKE,
despite frustration at the way Manchester United want to restructure their kit contract to allow them to sign an off-field fashion brand as well, remain in pole position to extend their shirt supply contract from 2015. United have talked to other companies but Nike have a clause in their contract allowing them to match any rival bid.