"Three Lions" under Coach Southgate in Jena: A Different Approach to Public Training Than the German Team!

Jena - Upon arriving in Erfurt, the England team conducted its public training session in Jena. Unlike other nations, coach Gareth Southgate (53) intentionally limited the size of the crowd allowed into the stadium. England, considered one of the favorites for the upcoming tournament, began its intensive preparation phase with a relaxed session that included mini-games of football tennis. Under head coach Gareth Southgate's guidance, the team practiced at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld in Jena with a full squad of 26 players on Tuesday, yet they did so in front of a relatively small audience. In stark contrast to the German national team, which recently drew 15,000 excited fans to a similar event at this historic venue, the Three Lions' mandatory public session, held in perfect weather and sunshine, welcomed only about 500 spectators. Even during their stay at the training camp in Blankenhain, where the German team also spent some time before moving to Herzogenaurach under coach Julian Nagelsmann (36), the English squad plans to keep a low profile. Champions League winner Jude Bellingham (20), who joined the team just last weekend, is viewed as a key player ahead of Sunday's match against Serbia at 9 PM on ZDF/MagentaTV in Gelsenkirchen. Captain Harry Kane (30) showed particularly high spirits during the football-tennis games on Tuesday, joking around with his teammates. Hope for a defensive boost is on the horizon with defender Luke Shaw (28), sidelined since February due to a persistent muscle injury, potentially returning to fill the gap on the left defense. Winger Bukayo Saka, recently benched against Iceland due to an injury, also managed to participate in the training. Despite being a substitute in the last test match, the Arsenal player is considered a strong candidate for the starting lineup. Alongside Serbia, England will face Denmark (June 20) and Slovenia (June 25) in the group stages of the tournament.