Off-days are now behind Three Lions as the focus turns from fun to graft

YESTERDAY was a total rest day for England’s squad and staff, a chance for the players to switch off from the daily grind of training, meetings and media duties.

- Dan Kilpatrick

At lunchtime, FA staff faced the English press pack at 11-a-side on a local pitch near their remote base here. What is the point when Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, the former Premier League Golden Boot winner who is now one of Gareth Southgate’s coaches, plays 90 minutes? The FA ran out 7-0 winners, Hasselbaink scoring twice.

Kieran Trippier took charge of the FA’s team, barking orders from the sidelines. He is plainly a leader in camp and on excellent terms with the staff. Other members of the squad, including Kyle Walker, Ezri Konsa, Adam Wharton and, briefly, Jude Bellingham stopped by to watch. Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo appeared on BMXs, hoods up, resembling bored teenagers in the holidays.

In the afternoon, players’ friends and families were brought into camp. Young children hared across the lawns and there were food trucks, a golf simulator, table tennis, video games, board games and swimming in the resort’s two pools.