
Football
Share
Published 11:36 15 Jun 2016 BST
Updated 19:45 15 Jun 2016 BST
Explore more on these topics:
The English FA confirmed on Tuesday that they have established a private website where the family and friends of players can access safety information. It didn't stop Jamie Vardy's wife allegedly being, "Teargassed for no reason, caged and treated like animals" before the 1-1 draw with Russia.
No doubt Rebekah Vardy will be looked after more closely in little Lens on Thursday when England take on Wales in their second Group B game.
Assurances will be made to Vardy that his new bride is safe because, if England need a goal from the Leicester striker they will want him focused on scrambling Ashley Williams' brain like he did in the Liberty Stadium back in December, not worrying about the welfare of family and friends.
https://twitter.com/me_stafford/status/742687733869629440
At the Irish team hotel in Versailles, a games room has been installed by one of the FAI's sponsors. No doubt the English squad have similar distractions to help them relax and take their minds off the job at hand.
On Monday, Harry Kane and others played golf on their day off, while others travelled into Paris for some sightseeing and shopping. In a mischievous moment you like to imagine Dele Alli, John Stones and Hart taking a wrong turn in Montmartre and wandering straight into the epicentre of the Irish madness in Clichy.
Incomparable obviously to the carnage in Marseille, the sight of thousands of fans merrily drinking, singing and dancing is still the sort of thing players are shielded from at tournaments - it seems most squads are billeted away in sublime seclusion.
Gone are the days of Italia '90, when Irish fans could travel to the Vatican and meet their heroes as they headed for an audience with the Pope. From another era too are the legendary tales of Irish fans drinking with the players in Orlando four years later.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/742746140056113152
A few fans in Chantilly on Tuesday gathered in a cafe beside the England hotel, awaiting the return of the team bus alongside a small gaggle of photographers. The police presence and railings would prevent them from getting anything more than a quick glimpse of the players as they headed back inside after training.
Once back inside their five-star lodgings they may discuss Britain's vote on staying in the European Union, Roy Hodgson's determination to have his striker take corner kicks or even Gareth Bale's suggestions that they are devoid of passion.
It's unlikely however they spend too long dwelling on the violence that flared up in Marseille or the fears of further flare-ups between Russian and English fans in Lille.
The number of television cameras at England's media centre at Les Fontaines went from 11 to 18 as interest builds ahead of the Wales game, but you might as well ask the England players about the atrocity in Orlando as the scenes in Marseille, they are so far removed.
On Wednesday they will make the short trip from sleepy Chantilly to a little Lens crammed with England and Wales fans - you imagine they will be happy to get back to their leafy hideaway on Thursday - whatever transpires at the "Battle of Britain".
They will be in no rush to make their Brexit from a very French oasis of calm.


Christian Eriksen releases personal statement after pitch collapse
More good news. Christian Eriksen has spoken publicly for the first time since collapsing during Denmark’s clash with Ukraine yesterday evening. Thankfully it is more positive news, and the veteran explained that the cause of the incident was his pacemaker, or ICD, working to protect him, which shocked his body. View this post on Instagram […]
Football
1 day ago
Denmark national team doctor issues new update on Christian Eriksen
The international collapsed in a friendly against Ukraine. Denmark’s national team doctor Morten Boesen has issued an update on Christian Eriksen following his collapse against Ukraine. The friendly match in Odense was halted after 65 minutes when the player collapsed, with the game abandoned shortly after. The 34-year-old was then thankfully able to walk from […]
Football
1 day ago
The 2026 World Cup viral moments live blog: Follow all of the action in our hub
Football