England captain Harry Kane says team are hungry for Euros success after pep talk from Prince William
ENGLAND skipper Harry Kane said the team are hungry for Euros success after they had a pep talk from Prince William.
But he laughed off a suggestion by Prince Louis that the team should eat double portions of food to achieve it.
Prince William joins Gareth Southgate and the England squad before they jetted out to Germany to prepare for their first game of Euro 2024 on SundayAndrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
The Prince presented every member of the squad with a box containing a special shirt to be worn in the tournamentAndrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
The England squad in official M&S smart casual wear
Wills posed for a snap with the England squad — with Gareth Southgate’s men also unveiling an official photo in casual cargo trousers, polo shirts, tees, shirts and bomber jackets made by M&S.
As FA President, the Prince of Wales was a regular at Wembley during the last Euros in 2021 and is set to jet to Germany to back the Three Lions this month.
He delivered off-the-cuff advice to Southgate and his 26-man squad at St George’s Park yesterday as they prepared to fly out ahead of Sunday’s opener with Serbia.
He said: “I was on the school run this morning with the children and I said, ‘What shall I say to the England team? I’m seeing them today’. The best bit of advice I got was to eat twice the amount you normally would eat.
“So I then had visions of you running around, massive great tummies and loads of stitches on the pitch. So maybe take my youngest’s advice with a pinch of salt, particularly around the physio team.”
Laughing off six-year-old Louis’ suggestion, Bayern Munich striker Kane, 30, said: “We’ve got to be careful with that. I don’t think a nutritionist was too happy with that advice — but it’s great to have Prince William here.
“He’s such a big supporter and has been to a few camps before the major tournaments. It just gives us extra motivation.”
Every member of the squad was then presented with a box containing a special shirt to be worn in the tournament.
It also featured the history of the number they would be wearing and a personalised reminder of how they fell in love with the game as youngsters.
Kane’s included a picture of him as a boy with the Ridgeway Rovers Football Club logo — and the words, “Harry Kane: All time goalscorer”.
Rovers is the club in Chingford, East London, where he played as a boy.
Prince William, who is an Aston Villa fan, plans to travel to Germany to watch the Three Lions when they take on Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in Group C.
Captain Kane said: “He loves it. He’s a big football fan, his kids are obviously big fans as well, now. We know how much it means to the country, to the fans — and that’s everyone from the Royal Family to the shopworkers.
“The whole nation comes together and we feel a responsibility to try to make them proud.
“The only way we can do that is to go out and give everything for this badge we wear.”
Wills joined Southgate, Kane, Villa striker Ollie Watkins, 28, and former Lioness Jill Scott, 37, at St George’s Park’s David Beckham Pitch to watch a tournament played by local school children.
William told some of the kids he was “never good at scoring”, so often played in defence.
Lines of police vans
Later, the England squad took off from Birmingham Airport for the 90-minute flight to Erfurt in central Germany. Security was tight at the airport for their arrival.
Lines of police vans appeared, plus heavily-armed cop teams and a military helicopter. Hundreds of locals turned up to welcome the squad. The biggest roars were saved for Kane and Real Madrid midfield ace Jude Bellingham, 20.
The crowd serenaded Kane with a chant of “Harry, Harry, Harry”.
Many were convinced that England have a better chance of lifting the trophy than Germany.
Jackie Williams, 47, from Erfurt, said: “Germany have improved lately so they do have a chance but England have the best players.”
England have spent £800,000 booking out the entire 94-room Weimarer Land Golf and Spa resort — set in 350 acres with three golf courses — in Blankenhain.
Resort bosses have installed every UK TV channel in every room to ensure the pampered players do not miss a second of their favourite shows — including Love Island.
Star midfielder Declan Rice, 25, said the reality show is required viewing. He also revealed every player has a PlayStation games console. The Three Lions remain 3-1 favourites to win Euro 2024, ahead of France and Germany.
APHarry Kane laughed off a suggestion by Prince Louis that the team should eat double portions of food to satisfy the squad’s hunger for success[/caption]
PAWills joined Southgate, Kane, Villa striker Ollie Watkins and former Lioness Jill Scott at St George’s Park’s David Beckham Pitch to watch a tournament with local kids[/caption]
