The England squad have taken part in a yoga session as they settle into life in Qatar ahead of the World Cup.
The Three Lions arrived in the Middle Eastern country on Tuesday evening ready for the month-long tournament which kicks off on Sunday. They are set to hold their first training session since arriving at their base camp later on Wednesday.
But first, Gareth Southgate 's troops prepared by taking part in a yoga session at the five-star Souq Al Wakra hotel they are staying out. The whole squad appeared to take part, including Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Mason Mount.
They were taken through a variety of stretches as they gathered in a large circle in a courtyard at the hotel. Southgate waved at excited fans when his side finally arrived at their World Cup base to ramp up their quest for Qatar glory last night.
Having finished runners-up at last summer’s European Championship on the back of reaching the semi-finals in Russia four years ago, the Three Lions are among the favourites to triumph in the Middle East.
The Three Lions received a passionate welcome from several hundred people in Al Wakrah – the coastline city they hope to call home for the next four weeks. The fans strongly rebuffed any suggestion they had been paid by organisers to welcome the team.
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The current squad received an excited welcome when they rolled up. A barrier that was erected inside the main fence quickly toppled over as fans rushed to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
Southgate waved at the waiting supporters from the bus and made a point of coming around to thank them for turning out. England will begin training at nearby Al Wakrah SC Stadium on Wednesday having left their home base at St George’s Park, where Harry Kane spoke of the group’s delight to be competing on the world stage.
“I’m excited, a World Cup is a special occasion,” the skipper said. “I think for most professionals it is the biggest tournament you can play in as a player, and I have been lucky enough to do one and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
“(The fan support is) going to be massive. I remember when we were out in Russia in our own little bubble. We saw all the videos from back home going crazy, it makes a big difference, it motivates us to be successful. We want to make the fans proud and happy.
“Of course, there will be some in the stadiums, we always have great support, but most will be at home and we just want to make them proud.”
England open Group B against Iran on Monday, before taking on the United States and neighbours Wales. It means a whirlwind turnaround from club action and the need to quickly acclimatise to the weather in Qatar, where temperatures are in the thirties during the day.
