Harry Kane cools off in the heat, a jellyfish
(Picture: ES Composite)England on Friday stepped up their preparations for the World Cup — but their plans to cool down before the big kick-off were scuppered by swarms of jellyfish.
Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Mason Mount and others went through their paces in midday temperatures of 32C at their Al Wakrah training base in Qatar.
But Gareth Southgate’s stars are confined to the swimming pool of their luxury Doha hotel if they want to escape the heat.
Last night when a group attempted to leave the five-star Souq Al Wakra to wade in the sea, Football Association security warned them off because of the dangers of jellyfish in the waters.
Upside-down, blue blubber and moon jellyfish are said to swim close to the resort’s public beach.
An FA source said: “A few of players are getting restless in the hotel and wanted to get out after training yesterday.
“The pool is fine but they’d like to go down to the sea because it feels like an inferno. We were taking no chances with the jellyfish so they couldn’t go.”
Qatar University marine biologist Dr Ibrahim Al Maslamani told local media the number of jellyfish inthe Gulf state is usually increased in the summer due to higher sea temperatures but they are still around in smaller groups during winter months.
The first wave of between 3,000 and 4,000 England fans landed in Qatar on Friday.
Many more are expected on Saturday ahead of the Three Lions’ campaign opener against the Iranians on Monday afternoon in the Khalifa International Stadium.
Meanwhile, comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel are releasing a festive reworking of their classic 1996 football anthem Three Lions ahead of the tournament.
The pair said that although their famous refrain “football’s coming home” had become obsolete following victory for the England women’s team earlier this year, they would give it “one more go for the blokes”.
A preview clip shows Skinner and Baddiel singing and dressed in Christmas jumpers, superimposed next to their younger selves, decorating a tree with Lioness baubles. Three Lions was first released by Skinner, Baddiel and Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie in 1996, being sung at every major international football competition since.
