Advertisement

Salted bread, loud music and a gold teapot: England's first World Cup training session in Russia

- 2018 Getty Images
- 2018 Getty Images

England's World Cup preparations stepped up a notch with their first training session on Russia soil - and they were greeted by a presentation party who came bearing gifts. 

At the Spartak Zelenogorsk training base, around 45 minutes from St Petersburg, captain Harry Kane and manager Gareth Southgate met local dignitaries who presented them with a luxurious gold tea pot and a loaf of salted bread. 

The loaf of bread is considered a symbol of Russian hospitality, while loud heavy metal music also played through the PA system throughout the training session. 

England's players were announced one-by-one as they walked onto the training pitch to the sound of Stone Roses hit This Is The One - the pre-match song of choice before Manchester United games at Old Trafford. 

Marcus Rashford was the only member of the the 23-man squad to miss training as a precaution after he picked up a slight knee injury. Southgate described the problem as 'nothing too serious'.

England gifts - Credit: Getty images
The presentation party carry gifts for England squad delegates Credit: Getty images

Rashford was man-of-the-match in England's World Cup warm-up victory over Costa Rica, but the knock is not expected to rule him out of the opening group game against Tunisia on Monday. 

Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier wore strapping on his thigh but trained regardless with no obvious signs of discomfort. 

More than 400 school children were part of the welcome party as England set about winning hearts and minds in Russia. 

World Cup 2018 | Fixtures, groups, squads and more

England's base in Repino is a short-drive away from the training ground, with friends and families staying in the city of St Petersburg which players will explore on days off. 

Finding a base that is neither too reclusive or has too many distractions has been a recurring problem with England tournament campaigns. 

Baden-Baden in Germany 2006 was considered something of a circus while the Fabio Capello's strict regime Rustenburg at South Africa 2010 was said to bore the players. 

WorldCup - newsletter promo - end of article