Gareth Southgate began studying France on the team bus away from the Al Bayt Stadium after the last-16 win over Senegal on Sunday, but England’s preparations for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final clash had, in truth, got underway two years earlier.
England did not arrive back at their base until 3am, but shortly after 9am they were sitting through a presentation on the reigning world champions by Tim Dittmer.