Gareth Southgate stood in front of the 26 players upon whom he bestowed the honour of a place in England’s Qatar World Cup squad as they gathered together for the first time at St George’s Park a week ago and gave his first rousing speech.
“I just wanted to say, firstly, congratulations to everybody, because it’s a big moment,” Southgate said, not shouting or fist pumping or beating his chest, but in that measured yet confident and assured way he has of addressing a large audience.
“We go to a World Cup. We now decide how long and how far we go. We’ve experienced success and we’ve experienced adversity. Everything that we’ve been through together as a group stands us in good stead for the next five or six weeks.
“Today is about enjoying yourselves, getting excited about going to a World Cup, recognising what it means, getting back together, get your England badge on and enjoy yourselves. That’s all we want to do, get excited about going to Qatar for a unique experience.”
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An arcade basketball machine proved particularly popular — a lot of the players love basketball — while some of them attempted to win goodies from a claw machine. Harry Kane managed to grab a pack of Nike socks he immediately declared “lucky socks!” and packed for Qatar, as did Declan Rice, who plans on giving them to his dad for Christmas.
Phil Foden and Jack Grealish showed off their phenomenal close control and quick passing in a reaction ring dubbed “The Machine”. There were pool tables and table football. And plenty of games on Fifa 23 on Xbox.
The slightly more eclectic activities involved making personalised bucket hats, with the help of a handy assistant on a sewing machine, while there was also a wall decorated by Mr Doodle, which included doodles of all the players, and space for players to add their own. Bukayo Saka added an England flag.
If the rest of the players felt like Rice, part one of the World Cup plan worked. “The moment we got to St George’s that’s when it hit me we’re going to the World Cup,” the West Ham midfielder said later. “As soon as we got to St George’s park it was like goosebumps stuff. This is a World Cup we’re going to here, what a privileged position we’re in, honoured.”
The next day, it was off to Doha, the team and staff cheered onto coaches by hordes of school children who Southgate afforded a line of high-fives to the lucky few in the front row before boarding for Birmingham airport.
On the Virgin Atlantic plane, called Rain Bow and carrying a LGBT+ icon, during the six-hour flight the atmosphere was relaxed. Some of the players snoozed. Rice and Mason Mount spent a couple of hours playing Mario Kart together on Nintendo Switch.
When they landed and were taken the 15-minute coach ride to the Souq Al Wakra Hotel, they were greeted by a large contingent of raucous Indian ex-pats who sang “It’s coming home” out of tune. Inside the reception lobby, they were each handed a single red rose.
The players have been blown away by what they have found inside the hotel. It’s far from the most luxurious hotel Qatar offers — the most expensive are in downtown Doha — but it has plentiful spa facilities and series of quiet, calming courtyards which create the perfect equilibrium. And, unlike some of the other team hotels, no alcohol is sold.
Emily Webb, England’s lead senior team manager, visited Qatar around eight times and spanning two years on reconnaissance and fact-finding missions, although it should be stressed that the Football Association were not arrogantly presuming the team would qualify — this is merely what it takes to arrange these sorts of things for tournaments at the highest level and they were only locked in after England qualified.
As with Euro 2020, when the players entered their rooms — described as modest and comfortable — they found framed pictures on the wall of family and friends. Luke Shaw was welcomed with pictures of his girlfriend, his kids and parents.
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Envelopes containing more photos were dotted around on furniture and some players had letters from loved ones. Rice found one from his dad, written back in October, recalling his memories of getting home from work and his son pestering to take him to training or to the park. “It made me so emotional,” Rice said.
Away from the rooms, the place has been kitted out spectacularly. There’s a basketball court that is popular with the players and staff. There are consoles where Fifa 23 is being played everywhere in downtime. A golf simulator keeps those used to frequenting courses back home, such as captain Harry Kane and Mount, in the swing of things.
An M&S smoothie bar has been constructed on the edge of one courtyard, where staff are always on hand to mix fresh drinks, each with a specific purpose. “Repair” smoothies include Black Forest Gateaux, Strawberries and Cream, Super Greens. “Protect” smoothies include Club Tropicana, Summer Lovin’, Blueberry and Banana. There is coffee available and old favourites section, one of which is called Pash and Shoot. Strawberry Split has been one of the favourites.
The players haven’t, however, had loads of downtime, with such a quick turnaround from landing last Tuesday to Monday’s opening game against Iran — much has been occupied with training, recovery, mealtimes and meetings.
The heat — hitting over 30ºC last week — could be a serious disadvantage for England. Fear not: England have been preparing for playing in searing temperatures since 2017, less than a year after Southgate was made manager, based on expert advice.
Training was intentionally scheduled for hottest period of the day to speed up acclimatisation and optimise performance, while also fine-tuning biorhythm and preventing mental fatigue. The temperature is likely to drop as the tournament progresses so, having become accustomed to the heat, the idea is it will feel easier for the players.
Rice’s mum text him before the first session at their Al Wakrah Sports Complex saying, “Make sure you put sun cream on!” It’s been essential. The players have enjoyed joking with one other about who, among the many wearing sleeveless tank tops, fills them out more than others, while nobody wants to stand too close to Ben White, who has a phenomenal tan.
When they prepare to face Iran in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup in the Khalifa International Stadium, at 1pm UK time, they will share their final prematch meal around three-and-a-half hours before kick-off. Most of the players have pasta. Although that sits heavy in Rice’s stomach, so he prefers sea bass and rice.
Each player picks one song for the final playlist they will listen to in the changing room, with less than an hour to kick off. Soft tissue therapist Joel Harris goes to all the players compiling, and it includes Lil Baby, Kendrick Lamar and Stormzy.
After two years of planning, countless World Cup qualifying camps and a week in Qatar, only then, when they walk onto the pitch and Brazilian referee Raphael Claus blows his whistle, will their World Cup truly begin.
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