A very English welcome for Three Lions in St Petersburg

England was hailed as “the motherland of football” as Gareth Southgate’s squad were welcomed to their World Cup training base, with traditional offerings of bread and tea and a blast of the Stone Roses.

England trained for the first time at Stadium Spartak Zelenogorsk on Wednesday morning, with more than 400 invited guests and dozens of media representatives on hand to greet them to the newly refurbished venue on the outskirts of St Petersburg.

Local school children, many of them draped in St George’s flags, were given England goodie bags and Southgate’s squad – missing only Marcus Rashford, who sat out the training session due to a knee complaint – obliged by stopping to sign foam footballs and shirts or pose for selfies.

They had earlier been introduced one by one as they emerged on to the pitch to the strains of ‘This is the One’ – a signature tune of Ian Brown’s famous Manchester collective – pumping out from speaker stacks.

An oration followed by Aleksey Kurinov, head of the Kurortny District, whose words were translated into English.

“We are very happy that the England team, which is the representative of the motherland of football, has chosen our city and district as its training site,” he said. “We hope our hospitable land will

“Strains of the Stone Roses pumping out from speakers”

bring success and luck to you.”

Southgate and captain Harry Kane then received gifts of korovai bread – a symbol of celebration often used in wedding ceremonies – and sweet tea by a group of women in traditional dress.

The tea came in an ornate golden urn, whose resemblance to a large sporting trophy did not pass unnoticed.

A young child, Artur Shvarcz, was then invited to meet Southgate and received a signed ball.