WATCH: ED SHEERAN PERFORMS PRIVATE CONCERT FOR ENGLAND PLAYERS AFTER SLOVAKIA WIN
England players started preparation for this week’s European Championship quarter-final against Switzerland with a live concert from Ed Sheeran at their base camp in Blankenhain.
Sheeran has previously visited the squad at the last Euros when they reached the final before losing on penalties to Italy. And the singer returned to their team hotel at Spa & GolfResort Weimarer Land after watching their win against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
Gareth Southgate planned to give his players some time to rest after the extra-time victory which saw them seconds from going out of the competition before Jude Bellingham’s spectacular scissor-kick equaliser.
Players did a light warm-down session on Monday and Sheeran visited them for his acoustic gig later in the day.
Sheeran, who has an association with football through sponsoring his boyhood club Ipswich Town, gave an indoor performance with players and staff sitting in front of him in the games area of the hotel.
Southgate has opened up the camp after matches so families can visit, although they have been several hours away from their four matches and next face the Swiss in Dusseldorf.
Having Sheeran at the training base was one of the touches Southgate and his team have introduced to make the tournament as enjoyable as possible during a month away where football has been the main focus.
The manager spoke about needing fun to refresh players, which is not “data” led but can have a big impact at a tournament. They have been together for more than a month since meeting up at Rockcliffe Park near Darlington.
At the last World Cup, Robbie Williams visited the squad for a singalong gig.
2024-07-02T06:09:48Z dg43tfdfdgfd