England stars jet off to Germany to luxury Euro 2024 base as Harry Kane and Co look to lead nation to glory
GARETH SOUTHGATE’S England squad have been pictured boarding their flight to Germany for Euro 2024.
The Three Lions hopefuls will be hoping to go one better than they managed last time out, when they suffered heartbreak by losing to Italy in a penalty shootout final at Wembley.
Southgate, who has refused to say whether this will be his last tournament in charge, went bold with his 26-player squad selection.
Favourites such as Harry Maguire and Jack Grealish were left out, while it will be a debut tournament for the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Adam Wharton.
Those selected to shoulder the nation’s hopes of winning a first major international tournament since 1966 met up at St. George’s Park on Sunday.
And on Monday afternoon they set off to their five-star Golfresort Weimarer Land base camp, near to east-German town of Blankenhain, which the FA have reportedly paid £800,000 for.
Jill Scott and Josh Denzel caught up with the players before they boarded the coach at around 2pm.
The team were seen in an all-black outfit as they boarded.
Some stars including Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Declan Rice and Aaron Ramsdale were seen grabbing a hot drink.
Other stars including Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Mainoo were caught up with after signing some autographs for fans.
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Southgate and defender Joe Gomez were then seen boarding the flight at Birmingham Airport.
After acclimatising to their surroundings, the first training session the team will then have will commence on Tuesday June 11.
England kick off their tournament on Sunday June 16 against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.
The Three Lions will then play Denmark in Frankfurt on June 20 before the final group game against Slovenia in Cologne on June 25.
Since a strong qualifying campaign ending in November, England have not been in ideal form going into the tournament.
England camp schedule
Here's how England's schedule for Euro 2024 could look
Sunday June 9: Player Arrivals – 26-man squad arrives at St. George’s Park
Monday June 10: Squad fly to five-star hotel base camp in Germany
Tuesday June 11: First training session ahead of Euro 2024
Saturday June 15: Team travels to Gelsenkirchen for opening game vs Serbia and pre-match media conference
Sunday June 16: Opening game vs Serbia. KO 8pm
Thursday June 20: Game 2 vs Denmark. KO 5pm
Tuesday June 25: Final group game vs Slovenia. KO 8pm
Sunday June 30/Saturday June 29/Monday July 1 or Tuesday July 2: Last 16 if England win Group/Last 16 if England come second in Group/One of four best third-place teams
Saturday July 6/Friday July 5: Quarter-finals, Group winners or one of best four third-place finishers/Quarter finals, second in Group and or one of best four third-place finishers
Wednesday July 10/Tuesday July 9: Semi-finals, Group winner path or third-best path/Semi-finals, runner-up path or third-best path
Sunday 14: Final, 8pm KO
March saw England lose 1-0 to Brazil and draw 2-2 to Belgium.
England then landed their first win of 2024 against Bosnia Herzegovina on June 3 with a 3-0 victory, before being stunned 1-0 by Iceland last Friday.
Gareth Southgate will take the handbrake off at Euro 2024... because he has no choice
By Charlie Wyett
GARETH SOUTHGATE will have no choice but to take the handbrake off his England team at Euro 2024.
The defensive crisis gripping the Three Lions means the only option in Germany, within reason, will be outright attack.
Southgate has often been lambasted for his safety-first approach — even if he points out you must go back to Walter Winterbottom’s sides in the 1950s to find an England manager with a better scoring record.
But with the crocked Harry Maguire left out, Luke Shaw not fit enough to start the tournament and John Stones having made just 12 Premier League starts this season, this is not a defence you would stake your life on.
The last time England went to a major tournament in Germany — the 2006 World Cup — the four centre-backs selected were Sol Campbell (68 caps), Rio Ferdinand (47), Jamie Carragher (25) and John Terry (24).
This time, when England fly out on Monday, the quartet will be Lewis Dunk (six), Joe Gomez (14), Marc Guehi (ten) and Ezri Konsa (three).
It makes Southgate’s decision not to recall the 49-cap Eric Dier for his provisional squad even stranger — especially considering his strong end to the season with Bayern Munich.
The elder statesman in his defence — and the one who absolutely has to stay fit — is 71-cap Stones.