Stars will deal with hot flush

FROM JOHN CROSS in Doha

ENGLAND players will be able to handle the heat in Qatar.

That is the verdict of Leicester midfielder James Maddison, despite the boiling temperatures in Doha.

England’s first game against Iran kicks off at 4pm local time next Monday and the players trained at a similar time yesterday to make sure they are well-prepared.

Even though it is cooling down at this time of year, the temperatures are unseasonably warm and have topped 30 degrees each day. But it does get colder later in the day.

Maddison (above) believes it will be no problem, however, and it is the same challenge for all the teams hoping to win the trophy.

He said: “The majority of the squad have played in temperatures that are higher. It’s got that pre-season feel, when you play a team from abroad and you play in the hot time in the summer. We’ve all done it.

“We’re all experienced, we’ve all played games abroad and in different countries. It is going to be warm, just like in day-to-day stuff. It’s the same for everyone out here, but there’s air conditioning.

“We had a joke about the rooms, but the air con is fine. There’s air conditioning everywhere. It’s nice to train in a bit of heat, to be honest, instead of the cold rain in England. Again, looking at the positives.”