England working to ‘build protection’ around World Cup base to avoid any ‘spygate’ scandal | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel is confident England will avoid being spied on at their World Cup base in Kansas City amid concerns over its exposed nature.

It comes as the Football Association works to prevent the national team being caught up in their own ‘spygate’ scandal.

Concerns have emerged regarding the Swope Soccer Village, the facility where the team will train from June 13.

The site, home to Sporting Kansas City’s reserve team, has prompted worries over potential unauthorised surveillance, drawing parallels to previous well-publicised indiscretions involving Southampton.

Tuchel, who recently named his 26-man squad for the tournament, will first take his players to Florida at the start of June for warm-weather training and a pair of friendly matches before their move to the US basecamp.

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England move into their Kansas City basecamp on June 13 (PA)

Middlesbrough have this week replaced Saints in Saturday’s Championship play-off final against Hull at Wembley, where the England boss announced his World Cup squad on the eve of the game.

Tuchel jokingly pretended to use a bow and arrow when asked how England would stop rivals looking at their training in Kansas City, before saying: “Yeah, we will take care of that, of course. As good as possible and not in a crazy way. It is what it is.

“As you all know, Argentina had the first option to choose a very secluded high-end facility in Kansas, so, like always, you try to influence what you can influence.

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It comes after Southampton were expelled from the play-offs after spying on Middlesbrough training sessions (PA)

“We are very happy with the training facility, especially what the FA and all the people in charge made now out of it.

“I think it suits all of our needs, but I agree it can be overlooked. I think we will have security there and we will build a bit of protection.

“Because of course it’s crucial if you train on a (matchday) minus-one, you do your team build-ups, you do your set-pieces, maybe you finalise with penalties … you don’t want the opponent to know.

“It just gives you a crucial advantage, so we’re trying to be as private as possible.”

Tuchel’s compatriot Tonda Eckert is under the microscope due to the Southampton manager’s role in ‘spygate’.

Asked if he will send anyone to look at the opposition, the German coach quickly replied: “We will not send!”