For some of the more superstitious England players, the timing was telling. The first night at their boutique Kansas City base coincided with game five of the NBA finals. A ferocious storm was whirling amid tornado warnings, with Scotland’s 1-0 win over Haiti also attracting attention, but a few of them made sure to be in place for tip-off.
By the time the New York Knicks sealed a 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs to clinch a first championship in 53 years they were jumping around. One player still had the presence of mind to point to the parallels between the storied New York team and England, from the constant noise around them to the tension of that long wait. Arsenal finally winning the title was of course referenced, too.
