The England football team are unwinding ahead of their clash with Slovakia by taking part in group activities which includes yoga, playing darts and drinking beer.
Following their under-par performance against Slovenia which ended goalless, Gareth Southgate’s side has returned to their basecamp where players can relax ahead of their round of 16 match on Sunday.
At the luxury Spa & GolfResort Weimarer Land in central Germany, it is understood that the squad are enjoying some morale-boosting activities away from the pitch.
The Three Lions also took part in a group yoga together after completing recovery sessions, which included wearing hi-tech inflatable trousers that helps flush lactic acid from the leg muscles.
The treatment – which is popular with celebrities – helps to increase circulation by laying in an inflating compression garment which applies a gentle or firm massage.
Hoping to get fighting fit for Sunday, the team have also been photographed taking part in stretching exercises with a physio.
After this they were allowed to let their hair down and enjoy drinks around the resort’s pool.
Player have also been pictured enjoying some recreational downtime where they played darts and took part in a cricket match.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham also tried their hands at a game of pool, where Jude proved he was a much better footballer than a pool player. With the referee of the match remarking: ‘You might be fantastic at football but pool is something you might need to spend a little bit of time on.’
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They threw a mini-American football between themselves – with team members such as England captain Harry Kane being well documented fans of the sport.
Instead of kicking footballs, Harry Kane and others were hitting golf balls at a nearby driving range as they continued their wholesome activities.
On Wednesday some members of the squad enjoyed a leisurely bike ride around the resort’s grounds.
This ended unpleasantly for Anthony Gordon who fell of his bike and was spotted yesterday sporting a grazes on his chin, nose and his hand.
The team’s families were also allowed to visit the camp before they got back to the business of preparing for the rest of the tournament. Southgate and the team have been seen training together on the camp’s pitch.
It has been reported that the players have been completing extra penalty practice ahead of the next game.
Centre-back Ezri Konsa said: ‘We’ve been practicing it after training, a few players go off and practice penalties. Look, we’re not thinking about going to penalties on Sunday, but if it comes to it, we’ll be well prepared.’
The Daily Telegraph reports that the team-bonding sessions are part of Southgate’s attempt to block out the ‘noise’ of the tournament – which has been described as underwhelming so far after the Three Lions only managed to score two goals during the group stage.
The squad are remaining positive. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale said: ‘We are in a strong position.’
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‘The boys who have played and did media duties have summed it up – we’ve not played our best stuff but you win stuff sticking together and let the outside noise be the outside noise.’
In a further boost to morale for both the squad and the nation, England does have one of the easiest routes to the final if they reach it. With France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and hosts Germany all on the opposite side of the draw.
Should Southgate’s men get past Slovakia on Sunday evening, they will have a quarter-final match with either defending champions Italy or Switzerland.
They could then play Ralf Rangnick’s impressive Austria in the last four after they topped Group D ahead of France and the Netherlands.
A final could then await against one of Europe’s big-hitters, as England aim to go one better than three years ago when they lost to Italy on penalties in the final.
They will have to improve considerably on their group-stage showings, though, after three underwhelming performances thus far in Germany.
England sneaked past Serbia 1-0 in their opening game before being held to draws by Denmark and Slovenia.
Fans have been left frustrated with England’s displays, and plastic beer cups were thrown at Southgate as he went to applaud the travelling contingent on Tuesday night following the dire draw with Slovenia.
Southgate has admitted he expects a lot more from his side, but could hardly have asked for a kinder draw to put things right.
Players including Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon are all pushing for starts after impressing off the bench against Slovenia, while Southgate still needs to figure out how to get the best out of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
Former England striker Alan Shearer insisted changes must be made for the last-16 tie, and Southgate must now decide whether to make minor tweaks or radical alterations to finally get his team on the front foot.
