THE HEAT IS ON BOYS
» Stars exit plane to 31C scorcher in Qatar » Fans hoping end to 56 years of hurt
IT was 31C as England landed in Qatar yesterday but it is not just the weather putting the heat on Gareth Southgate’s men.
The team are hoping to end 56 years of World Cup hurt with long-awaited victory in the tournament.
Their flight from Birmingham arrived just before 5pm UK time, 8pm local time and 88F was warm even for Qatar at this time of year.
The temperature is set to stay high for their first training session today.
But manager Southgate looked relaxed as hundreds of fans turned up at the team hotel to welcome them.
Some broke through a security fence as they sang, “It’s Coming Home”. Many were ex-pats waving flags.
Around 3,000 England fans are expected to fly out this weekend to attend our opening Group B match against Iran on Monday.
Midfielders Declan Rice, 23, and Jack Grealish, 27, posed in a selfie from the flight. Striker Callum Wilson, 30, said the team was keen to leave fans with some special moments.
He added: “For us as players, we were once those people supporting the England team from afar – social clubs, street parties, flags out, they’re the memories. Unfortunately we won’t be a part of them but hopefully we’ll be creating them.”
The 26-man squad took around 90 minutes to get through customs at Doha’s Hamad international airport and drive to Souq Al Wakra Hotel, the England team HQ for the tournament, with a cavalcade of police cars.
Crowds of local England supporters, waving flags, lined the streets.
The luxurious hotel has two new pools, changing rooms, and outdoor bar area built especially for the England team. It is also providing recruits from around the globe.
Senior sales manager Aiman Merenciano said: “We are ready for sure. The hotel has been closed for a week, the whole hotel is given over to England.
“It is great to see them arrive. We have taken on new workers from Africa, Portugal and Asia.”
He added: “The weather is really nice
for them as well. We have built two new pools and they will be able to relax in the new outdoor area.”
The whole of Qatar has been transformed for the most expensive World Cup in history, with eight stadiums within an area the size of Yorkshire.
The capital Doha boasts 50 new hotels, including a Waldorf Astoria and a Fairmont Raffles.
There is also the Lusail Winter Wonderland park, a kitesurfing resort, a yacht club and an eco-friendly desert resort.
It has all cost £185billion, dwarfing the £10.7billion bill for
Russia 2018, and the previous record £15billion spent by Brazil in 2014.
England are expecting the support of around 10,000 fans, with 3,000 ticket holders from the UK boosted by expats from around the world. Wales have also sold around 3,000 tickets.
Qatar is the smallest country to host the tournament and the first in the Middle East. Hundreds of schoolchildren had watched the England squad leave their base at St George’s Park in Burton-on-Trent, Staffs, before they boarded their Virgin charter flight.
The Airbus A350 is named Rain Bow to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. Being gay is illegal in Qatar and can be punishable by death.
England captain Harry Kane intends to wear his One Love rainbow armband during World Cup matches, even if it is not approved by Fifa.
An FA spokesman said: “We show our support for inclusion.”