European Soccer Tournament - A modest gathering in Jena anticipates the comeback of England's potential twosome.
England is warming up for the Euro 2024 tournament with some relaxed practices and friendly football tennis games. Under the guidance of head coach Gareth Southgate, 26 players gathered at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld in Jena on Tuesday, but only around 500 fans were present to watch.
Unlike the German national team, who recently had 15,000 excited fans watching them at a popular venue, England opted for a smaller, controlled crowd. The sunny weather and pleasant atmosphere made training conditions ideal.
The team's training camp in Blankenhain, shared with the DFB team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, will be a secluded space for England in the lead-up to the first game. Champions League winner Jude Bellingham joined the team over the weekend and is seen as a crucial player for the upcoming match against Serbia on Sunday (9:00 p.m./ZDF/MagentaTV) in Gelsenkirchen. Team captain Harry Kane was in high spirits on Tuesday, even during the football tennis sessions, and was seen joking with his teammates.
Defender Luke Shaw, who has been sidelined with a persistent muscle injury since February, showed promise of a potential return and could be challenging for a spot on the left defensive side. Winger Bukayo Saka, who's been struggling with form for Arsenal, also took part in training and is considered a potential candidate for the starting XI.
Apart from Serbia, England will face Denmark (20th June) and Slovenia (25th June) in their group stage fixtures.
