The FA have reportedly shipped the Wembley grass to Germany to aid England’s training sessions during Euro 2024.
- FA provide England with Wembley grass in Germany
- Have hired Harrod Sport to equip the training camp
- Aims to provide Southgate with the best facilities
WHAT HAPPENED?
The England squad has set up their training camp in Blankenhain, a small town located in East Germany. However, despite being miles away from the comforts of home, Gareth Southgate’s men have the luxury of feeling the warmth of Wembley grass at their feet – thanks to an FA initiative that aims to provide the players with a familiar playing surface, potentially giving them an edge in their bid for continental glory.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The decision to use the same grass as Wembley at their training base was meticulously planned months in advance by FA staff, ensuring everything was ready for the squad’s arrival. The consistency of the playing surface can help players adjust more seamlessly when transitioning between training sessions and competitive matches. This attention to detail is part of the FA’s broader strategy to aid the team in their quest to win their first major trophy since 1966.
DID YOU KNOW?
The preparations for Euro 2024 were further bolstered by the involvement of Harrod Sport, a sports equipment company based in Lowestoft, Suffolk. They have a longstanding relationship with the FA and the British firm was once again called upon to provide goalposts and equipment for training in Germany.
“We will have a presence at the actual tournament for matches and we’ve also helped the England team with their requirements,” said Kevin Utton, the sports sales and marketing director at Harrod Sport.
“We worked to get some goals and some equipment, to the standard he would want, over to Germany – which they will use at the base camp. Several sets of goals have gone to Germany ready to be used by the England guys to train with. The last time the Euros were in Germany, England were based in a camp called Baden-Baden and we did exactly the same thing, which was probably well over 10 or 15 years ago.”
WHAT NEXT?
England’s Euro 2024 journey begins with a challenging fixture against Serbia on June 16th at the Arena Auf Schalke. This match will set the tone for the team’s campaign, which continues with games against Denmark and Slovenia in the following ten days. English fans would hope that the efforts put in by the FA would reap dividends and that Harry Kane and Co. would go deep into the tournament.
