England arrive at World Cup base in Qatar
Gareth Southgate waved at excited fans as England arrived at their World Cup base to ramp up their quest for Qatar glory.
Having finished runners-up at last summer’s European Championship on the back of reaching the semi-finals in Russia four years ago, the Three Lions are among the favourites to triumph in the Middle East.
Southgate’s 26-man squad linked up at St George’s Park on Monday fresh from the Premier League pausing and followed a whirlwind day of duties by jetting off to Qatar on Tuesday.
England flew on a plane called ‘Rain Bow’ - noteworthy given the host country’s oppressive laws and treatment of LGBTQ+ people - and touched down in Doha at around 8pm local time.
The Three Lions received a passionate welcome from several hundred people in Al Wakrah – the coastline city they hope to call home for the next four weeks.
England are staying on the shore of the Arabian Gulf at the five-star Souq Al Wakra Hotel, where fans replete in replica shirts and carrying St George’s flags enthusiastically welcomed the team.
“It’s coming home” and the less familiar “Gareth Southgate super coach” were among the chants from supporters, many of whom were of Indian descent.
The fans strongly rebuffed any suggestion they had been paid by organisers to welcome the team.
“We are not paid,” said one fan, who wished to remain anonymous. “Even if someone offered money to us for loving England, we would rather tell them to get lost.”
