Players from England’s World Cup spotted relaxing on a Qatar beach
(Picture: Channel 5)England’s World Cup stars geared up for their crunch “Battle of Britain” match with Wales by hitting the beach — as fans predicted Tuesday night’s clash will be one to remember.
Around 8,000 English supporters and 6,000 Welsh will cheer on the teams at Doha’s Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, with an estimated 16 million TV viewers tuning in at home on BBC One. The match, which kicks off at 7pm UK time, will determine both teams’ World Cup futures.
Ahead of the game, John Stones, Eric Dier and Jude Bellingham were in relaxed mood as they strolled along the sands near their five-star Souq Al Wakra training base.
Later Harry Maguire, Aaron Ramsdale and Callum Wilson joined them for a wander around a nearby souk market. It is believed to be the first time the players have been allowed any downtime outside their hotel in two weeks because of Covid concerns.
England thrashed Iran 6-2 in their first game, but Friday’s 0-0 bore draw with the USA has left them still with a job to do to qualify for the last 16.
Gareth Southgate’s side will advance if they avoid a four-goal defeat, while a win would guarantee top spot. Wales must win and hope Iran and the United States draw in Group B’s other game to stand any chance of progressing. A last-16 match against Group A rivals Netherlands, Ecuador or Senegal awaits this weekend.
Amid old rivalries, Karin King, 32, from Bournemouth, posed in her Three Lions shirt with Welsh fan Rachel Waters, 27, from Swansea.
Ms King told the Standard: “Itdoesn’t come bigger than the Battle of Britain. It really is ‘do or Dai’ tonight but I’m sure England will win.” But Ms Waters added: “England are not invincible, the result against the USA proved that. If we have to beat them by a large goal margin, then let’s put a full 90 minutes and any extra time into it.”
Liverpool university student Lizzy Bulter, 22, from Lincolnshire, predicted: “England will breeze past the Dragons on our way to lifting the World Cup.”
England fan Ben Williams, 37, from Bristol, will be at the stadium with Welsh-supporting wife Lucy, 35.
He said: “Obviously, the Three Lions will defeat the Dragons but it hasn’t gone down too well when I’ve said that at home.”
Mrs Williams, who born in Swansea, interrupted: “This is the best Wales team and we have Gareth Bale — more than enough to see off England.”
Sam Nolan, 10, flew to Doha from Sheffield with his mother Suzanne Nolan, 44. The schoolboy said: “England played well against Iran but they should have done better during the USA game. I want Phil Foden to start in the Wales match because I think he’s good.”
Mrs Nolan added: “Sam’s so excited. We had to get up for the flight at 2.30am — by far the easiest he’s emerged from under the duvet cover. Sam’s got his full kit ready for the match but we’re just trying to keep it clean for later.”
At tonight’s game, sports minister Stuart Andrew, who is gay, has said he will wear the rainbow-coloured OneLove armband that Fifa banned the captains of England and Wales from donning.
Arsenal supporter Moses Moses, 74, who left Paddington for Los Angeles when he was 13, offered to pay for his brother and two nephews to come to Qatar but they declined because of the Gulf state’s human rights record and treatment of migrant workers.
“This is my fourth World Cup and by far the best experience I’ve had,” said Mr Moses. who was draped in a St George’s and Stars and Stripes outfit. “There’s problems everywhere but I’m sure Qatar has improved because of the uproar. I want England to win.”
Olly Bolton, 37, from Surrey, said: “Can we really lose 4-0 tonight? I hope Southgate plays Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford. Everyone’s talking about Phil Foden, so Gareth should mix it up.”
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the UK’s football policing lead, said there had been no arrests or incidents in the opening nine days of the tournament.
