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England’s World Cup squad have settled into their luxury palm tree hotel with a mix of Arabic culture, 21st century technology – and the support of two sleeping camels.
As they began the journey to Doha with their base at the Souq Al Wakra Hotel, manager Gareth Southgate gathered a group of 26 men and told them: ‘Now we decide how long and how far we go. We find success. We are having difficulties.’
To help ensure that is the case, the England manager has taken extensive measures to help the team feel at home, eat and sleep properly and focus on the upcoming World Cup activities.
On Thursday, a van full of wide-screen TVs and comfort videos was delivered to the team’s hotel.
Players also have a support team of nutritionists, physiotherapists and experts who can advise on mental health and relaxation techniques.
On their first night after arriving on Tuesday, they were treated to an evening of traditional Arabic music after being greeted by flag-waving staff who gathered in the reception area to applaud them.
Gareth Southgate and the England manager want to make sure the team feels at home in Doha
This team is accompanied by a team of nutritionists, physiotherapists and psychologists
Several video game consoles were delivered to the team’s Doha hotel on Thursday
And to make them feel even more at home, they enjoyed a cabaret performance by singer Robbie Williams’ Angels.
The staff delivers local refreshments. And a camel and a falcon were on display, both symbols of Qatar.
Captain Harry Kane and his men were given flowers and chocolates before being shown to their rooms where staff shaped towels to make ‘friendly’ symbols such as swans and princes and princesses and placed them on the guests’ beds.
The Three Lions were treated to a cover by Robbie Williams aka Angels on Tuesday
The alcohol-free hotel, located in an Arab souk-like setting, backs onto the popular beach where families and tourists can enjoy camel rides and swimming in the sea.
The Football Association has taken over a five-star hotel during the tournament, with England’s first match coming up next Monday against Iran.
Soon after arriving on Tuesday evening, the entertainment at Souk Al Wakra went into full swing with a lounge musician belting out hits.
Souq Al Wakra Hotel is located a short distance from eight of the ten places
Accompanied by an electric piano, she sang Robbie Williams and then followed it up with the US song and dance star Crystal Waters’ 1991 hit Gypsy Woman, about a homeless woman who sings for money.
A former British priest who passed by the hotel likened it to Phoenix Nights, a sitcom about a working-class men’s club in the north of England, saying: ‘The singer was very loud and good on point, but I don’t know what it was all about. going down. There wasn’t that much applause.’
The Qatari authorities have thrown a ring of iron around the hotel, with police stationed every 20 yards in the bustling souk and the surrounding streets.
The police boat is about 300 meters from the beach, and the officers took no chances, and the ceremonial camel was searched before meeting the England team.
The luxury hotel in the Qatari capital also houses five restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines
A police officer was seen lifting the rags covered over the beast to check for hidden weapons.
Security officers on camels patrolled the beach and outside the hotel to ensure the group’s safety.
Southgate’s decision to stay at the Souq Al Wakra Hotel was largely based on logistics and transport links, with his chosen hotel a short drive from eight of the tournament’s 10 venues.
The hotel has been cordoned off by Qatari authorities for security
But an insider said on Thursday: ‘Gareth Southgate and two FA officials looked at the hotel about two years ago when they were deciding where to stay.
‘He said it was perfect except it needed a swimming pool. They put one in. They took out the well and put in a pool.’
The hotel – which describes itself as a ‘beautiful seaside resort’ – also has beach access and offers an on-site full-body spa with relaxing massages, foot rituals, facials, reflexology and ‘hot stone walks’.
In addition, there are five restaurants, some with a view of the sea, and popular Western or Arabic and Levantine dishes such as mezze plates, mixed grill or a dish of local sound.
A swimming pool was installed at the hotel at Southgate’s request two years ago
There is a mosque next to the house and the call to prayer rings six times a day. The times changed daily and the first Thursday call to prayer was at 4.33am and additional announcements over the hotel’s loudspeakers occurred several times a day.
Southgate called for players to be protected by a strict Covid bubble and when James Maddison met the media, reporters were given face masks by the FA.
In Russia 2018, players such as Eric Dier are allowed to leave the team hotel, shop and meet fans, but covid fears could mean players are confined to their beach hotel near the Persian Gulf.
The arrival of the Three Lions at their hotel was greeted by crowds of cheering fans
FIFA has put a giant in ‘England;’ A memorial stone next to where two sleeping camels lie on the sand next to a children’s playground and World Cup flags and signs by the beach.
It is unlikely that the players’ WAGs will be allowed to meet them, but the FA has provided statues of the women and their children inside each player’s room.
X-Boxes and other video games are on top. West Ham boss Declan Rice took socks out of a crane style funfair machine and heard a laugh as he laughed: ‘That’s my dad’s Christmas present.’
Concerns about covid could leave the players confined to their beach hotel near the Persian Gulf
Despite the lack of fans from England just a few days before the tournament, some genuine fans were outside the team hotel from India.
Shopkeepers Hadi Ali, Jamshi Mavoor, Shihas Erakkuman and Shihas Karisseeri flew to Qatar from Kerala and presented their visa stamps and match tickets after reports that ‘fake fans’ were being shown by Qatar’s World Cup champions.
Anurag Kumar said he likes Harry Kane but prefers Indian cricketer MS Dhoni
Hadi, 26, who was wearing a Harry Kane shirt and has tickets for two England games, said: ‘We are in the team hotel because we want to see our England players. We saw Raheem Sterling and he waved at us. It’s a very special moment.
‘They don’t know how much we love them. All four of us grew up in Kerala from childhood supporting England.’
But Anurag Kumar, 30, manager of the Royal Tandoor restaurant attached to the team’s hotel said, “I love Harry Kane, but the best sports manager ever is India’s MS Dhoni.
‘Cricket is my favorite…I don’t really like football.
But if Mr Kane and his team would like to come here, it would be an honor to welcome them.
‘I know that Indian food and curry are very popular in England, so maybe they like our food and they can miss a lot and come in. But they can follow the takeaway when the fans interrupt them.’
England continue their preparations for the opening game against Iran on Monday
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