Inspired by Wayne Rooney, entertained by James Bay, powered by Mexican food and lifted by the unlikely friendship between Harry Kane and Adam Wharton, England are ready for their arrival here in Germany.
It’s been an emotional few days for Gareth Southgate’s side. The shock loss to Iceland on Friday and the subsequent setback were less than ideal ahead of their opener against Serbia on Sunday.
That followed the cull, when Southgate informed the unfortunate seven that they had not been included in the squad and would not travel to Germany this afternoon. Never an easy circumstance to navigate.
Some take bad news better than others. That was certainly the case during a 24-hour period between Wednesday and Thursday, when Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire, James Maddison, Curtis Jones, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Trafford and Jarrell Quansah were told their services were no longer required.
Fear? Naturally. Fury? Doubtless. While Southgate insisted the players respectfully accepted the bad news, moments like these rock the boat.
England are ready and prepared for their arrival in Germany for Euro 2024 on Monday
The Three Lions’ shock loss to Iceland on Friday was hardly ideal preparation for the European Championship
Gareth Southgate had seven players informed that they had not been included in the squad the day before
Maguire, Grealish and – to some extent – Maddison are great characters. They make their presence felt, their respective departures just as profound.
But onwards and upwards – at least that was Southgate’s message on Thursday evening as he addressed his well-groomed squad in the luxurious lodge at Tottenham’s training headquarters.
There was recognition of the uncomfortable nature of what had been a brutal day; Grealish’s axing was particularly deeply felt.
But Southgate’s overriding directive was to draw a line under a turbulent day and set their sights on what lies on the horizon: glory.
Building team spirit, renewing relationships and developing new ones are at the heart of Southgate’s methodology.
The omissions of Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford, Kalvin Phillips, Raheem Sterling, Maguire and – to a lesser extent – Grealish and Maddison leave Southgate unfamiliar with the camaraderie in his camp.
Jack Grealish’s dismissal in particular was deeply felt by the England team last week
Sources say that Southgate is particularly impressed by the (right-wing) behavior of Declan Rice
The dressing room – led by captain Kane – kept watch. They were the driving force behind the standards, and were decisively central in helping to foster the kind of togetherness that has been perhaps Southgate’s greatest success since taking over in 2016. But the faces are different this time. The leadership committee set up by Southgate has been disbanded; new leaders will emerge – at least that is the hope.
Sources in the camp say Southgate has been particularly impressed with Declan Rice’s attitude, with the midfielder taking on increasing responsibility within the camp. Southgate is leaning towards the Arsenal midfielder more than ever.
His cheerful and outgoing attitude makes him an approachable character for the young members of the team; they can relate to his style and swagger. The seniors also recognize his growing status.
But it’s up to others to follow Rice’s example. Southgate is counting on that. The England head coach and his staff have left no stone unturned in their quest to create the perfect working conditions in which they believe the players can thrive.
Luke Shaw, Anthony Gordon and Maguire were the first to report for duty, arriving early at the team’s first camp at Rockliffe Park, in Darlington, as the injured trio all tried to convince Southgate of their fitness. We know Maguire’s efforts were in vain, but Shaw and Gordon reaped the rewards of their early showing.
The first and largest wave of arrivals occurred on May 30. Grealish was the next through the door five days ahead of schedule before Manchester City colleague John Stones, who played sporadically during the final weeks of the season, also reported ahead of schedule. The remaining contingent of City and Manchester United reported to Spurs last Tuesday in England’s second temporary home.
It is said that the constant flow of people entering the camp kept the mood fresh. New faces, new jokes – it goes a long way in keeping a lively camp.
Reporting to Rockcliffe Park was particularly poignant for a large number of players, as the team had also based part of their preparations there for the postponed Euro 2020 – England’s best tournament since 1966.
Of course, Rockliffe has had a special place in Southgate’s heart since his time as Middlesbrough boss, with the Championship side’s training center on site.
But the players involved in that special summer of 2021 will always be cherished by Rockliffe. Sometimes there’s nothing like a trip down memory lane to get the juices flowing. The on-site golf course and driving range were popular with players and staff, as was the table tennis table.
The basketball net that became such a lively hub of activity during the 2020 European Championship and 2022 World Cup is yet to appear, but is expected to return here to their base in Blankenhain.
Reporting to Rockcliffe Park was particularly poignant for a large number of stars because of previous links
Singer James Bay (centre) made a secret appearance for the English camp in Rockliffe
Elsewhere, the introduction of themed menus, especially the Mexican and Indian nights, has created a firestorm among players.
Then came the night they were treated to a Nando’s takeaway, devouring their peri-peri chicken to the dulcet tones of singer Bay, who was performing a secret gig in Rockliffe.
Those responsible for keeping the players entertained during the camp are planning another intimate performance at their German headquarters.
Players and staff don’t know who will perform for them alongside Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams and Bay, but are already trying to guess who will be next on stage.
It’s all part of Southgate’s efforts to ensure players are constantly involved. Tournament camps can become repetitive. Southgate’s support staff try to ensure there is never a dull moment. One evening the players gathered to watch Rooney 2004: The World At His Feet – a BBC documentary about the former striker’s remarkable impact on the European Championships 20 years ago.
Back at Spurs last Tuesday, players and staff watched England women beat France 2-1 in their Euro 2025 qualification.
For a number of players, the highlight of their stay in Rockliffe was the moving speech by England cricket captain Ben Stokes.
Stokes spoke openly for around 90 minutes, reflecting on England’s victory at the 2019 World Cup and in particular the way they responded to defeats to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia during the tournament.
The 33-year-old talked about how he felt opinion turned against his side when they suffered those losses, but stressed the importance of continuing to see the bigger picture even when public scrutiny lends itself to panic.
It has not escaped England’s senior players that Stokes’ comments are now more meaningful than ever following the loss to Iceland and the criticism that has come in since.
“Stick together,” Stokes emphasized. Since Iceland and the censure that followed, the cricketer’s words of advice have resonated.
That said, much of the England squad will obviously head into their first major international tournament untroubled by the pain of failure on the biggest stage.
Still, the unspoiled innocence of youth would have reinvigorated a team that had grown but ultimately failed together.
Experience is not always the key. Take Wharton, whose addition has been described as a breath of fresh air. Senior players have admired him. It is believed that Kane had dinner with the Crystal Palace youngster one evening.
Kane’s developing bond with Wharton could unsettle Eagles fans, given Bayern Munich’s long-standing interest in the 20-year-old. But what’s not to like: calm, mature, collected – and an excellent footballer to boot.
However, the humanity of the English captain is not limited to Wharton. His work in maintaining a happy camp should not be underestimated. An extension of Southgate, the 30-year-old goes out of his way to welcome new faces, yet is fiercely loyal to those he has gone to war with during his England career.
That compassion was present last week when he comforted the cleared players.
Kane of course knows every nook and cranny of Tottenham’s training center in Enfield, where England settled last week.
England Test captain Ben Stokes’ rousing speech was a highlight for a number of players
It is believed that Harry Kane shared dinner with the younger Adam Wharton one night
There is something familiar about the complex English game that players find soothing. They’re enjoying their stay there, although you’d imagine Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale would never admit that.
But again, it is no coincidence that the team feels relaxed at Tottenham. The support staff is constantly looking for ways to find the perfect balance between work, rest and relaxation.
The relaxed areas of the English bases are deliberately left untouched, with players walking around the communal areas before and after treatment sessions, which last well into the evening.
Southgate’s carefully organized pre-tournament camp has provided a platform for success. But ultimately England’s Euro 2024 campaign will be judged on the pitch. No amount of Mexican food from Nandos will change that.