England step up World Cup preparations with first session in United States | OneFootball

England trained for the first time in the United States as they step up preparations for the World Cup.

Twenty-one of the selected 26-man squad took to the pitch in a community session in West Palm Beach on Tuesday as they begin to acclimatise to sweltering conditions in North America.

They were joined by the quintet selected by Thomas Tuchel to help with preparations, made up of Liverpool starlet Rio Ngumoha, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, Arsenal forward Ethan Nwaneri, Fulham star Josh King and Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele.

Arsenal quartet Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke and Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson did not train due to their involvement in European finals over the past week.

open image in gallery

England trained for the first time on US soil on Tuesday (PA)

Tuchel’s men arrived in Florida on Monday evening and will increase the intensity over the coming days ahead of Saturday’s warm-up friendly with New Zealand in Tampa Bay.

They then face Costa Rica next Wednesday before moving to their tournament base in Kansas City ahead of their Group L opener against Croatia on 17 June.

Tuesday’s training marks the start of a journey that England hope finishes in glory on 19 July by ending 60 years of hurt and winning the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

Tuchel has vowed to add a second star to the shirt this summer but this will be one of the toughest assignments yet, given the conditions and logistics involved in a tournament spanning three countries and four time zones.