Two kilometres away from England’s luxurious training base is a sleepy town with a population of around 9,000 people Blankenhain is the municipality Gareth Southgate and his players will be calling home during their stay in Germany for Euro 2024 and if you were walking along the main road you would be forgiven for wondering whether a new tourism partnership with England had been agreed England flags are placed alongside German flags in shop windows and there is an England flag made out of flowers — planted a week ago — outside Blankenhain Castle which is where Southgate and squad members will be carrying out their media duties The front door to the irregular oval-shaped castle is adorned with England flags It was built around 1150 and was owned by the Lords of Blankenhain in the 13th century it had to be rebuilt and has remained standing How to follow Euro 2024 and Copa America on The Athletic… It is now commonly used for wedding ceremonies as well as conferences — but has been taken over by the Football Association (FA) for the duration of the tournament There is a darts board inside the press conference room with Adam Wharton representing the players against the media on Wednesday and a games room upstairs with a pool table when England’s players’ families descended on Baden-Baden and took the limelight away from England’s efforts in the World Cup There are no designer boutique stores in Blankenhain where €7 (£6; $7.50) is enough to buy you a ‘mega kebab’ — and a sushi restaurant.  Just up the road is a barbershop — Gold Style — and Beauty & Sun for anyone looking to top up their tan on a sun bed a hotel — the Pension Parkhotel — and a large Euro 2024 football alongside the main road as you drive away from Blankenhain Castle Parked no more than 50 metres away from Alanya Grill was an advertising truck Football is coming home — to the ancestors of your king Just behind the truck is a bench that has been inscribed with a swastika which is widely recognised as a symbol of the German Nazi Party there is a plaque commemorating the “fatalities of the Nazi euthanasia from Thuringia” Christiane Schmidt-Rose of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany party recently defended her position in the local elections on June 9 and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham are no more than a 10-minute drive away but for a few shop windows displaying a sense of football fever Blankenhein doesn’t appear to be getting sucked into the circus that follows England “I only found out last week that England are going to be staying close to us,” Marko Holland-Moritz The football fans who live here are excited England’s Euro 2024 roadmap players’ families became the main attraction but that is an episode unlikely to be repeated in Blankenhain The players’ loved ones will be able to visit them the day after England play and the expectation is that many of them will just travel in and out for games instead of basing themselves out in Germany for the tournament “The town is a sleepy one,” says Nicole Kollner who has decorated her store with England flags Next to the checkout are England bracelets “We hope the town is going to be busier!” Kollner adds “We decorated our shop at the beginning of this week and we aren’t expecting them to make the trip to the town “Our colleagues are on holiday in England and will be back tomorrow with lots more decorations!” Kollner’s daughter went to the Spa & GolfResort on Monday to welcome England’s players they did not see the squad make their way into their complex “It is great for the town that England are staying nearby it is exciting knowing they are close,” Kollner adds the German national team were using the same base my daughter was thrilled with (Thomas) Muller and how he was with the fans They hoped it would be the same when England arrived But they are here to play football.”  Given the vast array of amenities on offer at England’s training base a basketball court with outdoor and indoor swimming pools The indoor pool has become the main social area they were greeted by personalised notes from their families and photos of them on the wall GO DEEPER The Radar - The Athletic's 50 players to watch at Euro 2024 England always bring their own fragrance to their training camps and it is no different in Germany The corridors of the Spa & GolfResort have the same scent as St George’s Park and their rooms have a signature aroma “From the games room to outdoor sports to the golf courses and recovery-wise there’s everything there,” Ivan Toney told BBC Radio 5 Live Toney says the “20 saunas” will be great for their recovery and highlights how he will be “flicking through” the book full of messages from his family for as long as England are in the competition and I just end up flicking through my phone and looking at pictures “I always flick through photos of them when I’m away but to have them on the wall straight away and on the book is good.” Tom Heaton, the 38-year-old who joined the England squad as a training goalkeeper top end”, while stressing “no one will get distracted from what we’re here for” The most expensive course to play is the Bobby Jones Championship Course which costs €105 for a round during a weekday and €115 at the weekend There is a state-of-the-art golf simulator on site meaning the players can still play indoors if it is raining The facilities at the squad’s disposal should keep them entertained and are a big reason Germany wanted to use this as their training base for the tournament but one that has lots of nature,” adds Holland-Moritz The most famous landmark we have is the castle which has been taken over by England flags!” Dan Sheldon is a football news correspondent for The Athletic. He has previously covered Manchester City, Manchester United and Southampton FC. Follow Dan on Twitter @Dan_Sheldon_ secluded resort in the centre of Germany has raised the bar from past tournaments FA chefs and Dave the Cat: England land at lavish Euro 2024 baseThis article is more than 10 months oldWord in camp is the luxurious enabling England to check into the luxury facility upon their arrival in Blankenhain on Monday “They [the Germans] wanted to come back but eventually we got in so a good job by the guys at the Football Association,” Kane said was that it represents a significant raising of the bar in terms of the previous overseas tournament accommodation during the Southgate era In other words, the FoRestMix Hotel in Repino and the Souq Al Wakra for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals tournaments respectively (England stayed at St George’s Park during the previous European Championship.) The bases in Repino and Al Wakrah were comfortable and relaxed The resort here on elegant country premises is on the next level Two 18-hole golf courses plus a nine-hole course – ideal for Kane and the squad’s other golf lovers bringing its own chefs along as usual – even though there are fine dining restaurants on site Dave had been Photoshopped underneath a crown Gareth Southgate (right) looked relaxed and had fun during an open training session in front of 500 supporters in Jena on Tuesday Photograph: John Sibley/ReutersThe FA obsesses over little touches such as giving each player match shirts with his name and number on the back to pass to family members The idea is that they can wear them to the games It is the larger move – the resort itself – that the FA hopes can provide the springboard to glory England’s Tuesday afternoon session at Carl Zeiss Jena’s stadium was a one‑off a move to engage with the local community; 500 enthusiastic fans were in attendance Southgate’s squad will normally train at the resort on a pristine surface that is part of the wider plot they had 15‑ and five‑minute trips to Stadium Spartak Zelenogorsk and Al-Wakrah Sports Club respectively Carl Zeiss Jena made it to the 1981 European Cup Winners’ Cup final but now play in the regional fourth tier of German football making it all the more impressive that they have such a well-upholstered 12,500-capacity ground Free daily newsletterKick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football All 26 of Southgate’s players were on the grass who is fighting to regain fitness after a hamstring tear – most likely for England’s second group game against Denmark – did not play a full part It was a feast of technical quality and competitive as well; especially the headers and volleys drill and the small-sided games The scene was framed by St George’s flags in the stand Everybody roared when Jude Bellingham scored with the coolest of back heels – especially Bellingham England arrived at the Spa & Golf Resort Weimarer Land in Blankenhain on Monday Photograph: Adam Davy/PAThe players will become familiar with Blankenhain a quiet and pretty town of 6,000 inhabitants because they will hold their media activities in the oval-shaped castle there its entrance is framed by a pair of Three Lions flags and guarded by Christian “Harry Kane was here this morning,” Christian says He was here for some pictures.” The rest of the squad were there but Kane seems like the biggest draw; the Bayern Munich striker heard his name chanted throughout the training session England's stars are in for a treat at their top-notch luxurious basecamp.. England held their final training session on home soil at St. George's Park on June 10, along with a special visit from Prince Williams before the team's departure for Germany for the Euro 2024 finals the Three Lions have finished runners-up to Italy at the previous Euros and were eliminated by France at the quarter-finals stage of the 2022 World Cup with expectations riding high to bring home the trophy But where will England have their basecamp during their stay in Germany The England team will be based at five-star Weimarer Land Spa and Golf resort in Blankenhain a half an hour’s drive from Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld in Erfurt even though all three of England's group games are to be staged in the west of the country The lavish 94-room resort consists of two full-size football pitches and high-end spa facilities where suites cost guests £300-a-night besides three golf courses to keep the players entertained Team Germany spent a five-day training camp at the same location towards the end of May As reported by Mail Sport the English FA has reportedly spent £850,000 for England's escapade as the property is enriched with two Michelin-star restaurants two swimming pools for recovery amid the 2,500-square-metre spa known as the 'Lindentherme' The resort will have a team of 35 chefs in order to cater to the custom dietary requirements of the players and staff with personalisation of individual rooms with family photos among other requests has also revealed of the special requests made by the England players including the availability of English television in the rooms The England players' families will be allowed to stay at the remotely located resort but will be allowed to meet the players at designated intervals during the Euros and I think those elements are important for the players," said Southgate England captain Harry Kane appears to lose a game of darts before his news conference in Blankenhain ahead of England's match against Slovenia in their final Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The singer visited the team’s camp in Blankenhain to perform for them Showbiz Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for exclusive competitions I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice Ed Sheeran gave the Euro 2024 England team a private concert after their 2-1 victory over Slovakia on Sunday The 33-year-old singer visited the team’s camp in Blankenhain to perform for them, which saw player Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane in attandance Manager Gareth Southgate arranged Sheeran's visit as part of efforts to make the tournament enjoyable for the players fans noted that the athletes appeared less than enthusiastic during the Grammy winner’s performance strumming an acoustic guitar and singing his song The A Team tells the story of a homeless woman battling addiction the worst things in life come free to us,” he sang as several expressionless players filmed on their phones England fans took to X to comment on whether Sheeran’s performance had the morale-boosting effect Southgate intended as the squad prepares for their next game against Switzerland on Saturday One penned: “Got these boys looking depressed no wonder the football’s looking terrible.” “Aren’t the players already depressed enough?” another quipped A third then claimed: “Yeah we’re going out [of the tournament] boys.” This isn't the first time Sheeran has performed for the England team he played for the squad before their final against Italy Appearing on BBC’s Crouchy’s Year-Late Euros Sheeran described a private performance he gave to the England squad at a barbecue in 2021 as one of the best moments of his career He told Peter Crouch at the time: “At the end of the night Five Arsenal stars nominated for Ballon d'Or as shortlists revealed Carsley's Young Lions out to bring U21 flair to Nations League bounceback Mountaineer Bonita Norris reveals how to overcome everyday obstacles but I don’t think there’s many moments that will top that.” Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary England midfielder is parking talk of celebratory haircuts or tattoos as he prepares to confront Spain in Berlin he could get on board with the idea of a celebratory tattoo Maybe a radical deployment of hair dye could bring something snazzier and less permanent Instead Rice reached straight for the deadpan “I don’t want to jinx anything because I feel like we’ve done that in the World Cup and the last Euros,” he said “When things don’t go your way you end up thinking: ‘Why did we speak about things before they even happen?’ One more game then we can talk about silly haircuts and tattoos.” Read moreOne of Rice’s benefits is that, if there are ever occasions when he is off key in possession, his ability to create a platform for those around him remains constant. That was certainly the case on Wednesday against the Netherlands when Kobbie Mainoo’s outstanding display benefited in no small part from his partner’s willingness to cover every blade of grass Nobody has run further than Rice at this tournament and it caught the attention to hear him say that he feels more sprightly than in the earlier stages of this seven-game marathon “In the first couple of games I was feeling more tired than I am now,” he said “The adrenaline kicks in more as the games ramp up in a final where control of the ball in midfield feels decisive may be that Rice’s match-up with Rodri presents the defining contest “We constantly get compared to each other but I think we’re completely different players,” he said agreeing about the location of the battleground if not the likeness “I’ve been playing a bit more attacking at Arsenal He’s a born-and-bred Spanish holding midfielder If you look at the best who’ve played there – Xabi Alonso Sergio Busquets – they play it the best that you can we’ve been a lot more fluid between the lines I think we’re all really confident that we can improve on the last final and show that we have learned what’s needed to win a final.” The pain of three years ago at Wembley is a consistent theme of the discussion and one that Rice has addressed fully in the past “Seeing Italy walk up at our home stadium and lift that trophy is something that lives with you,” he said upon being reminded again Southgate took pains to plant more positive images in their minds “We had a meeting at St George’s Park and he put up special moments: when England won the Ashes There were pictures of what it would be like just to get that feel of how we could impact a nation.” You have to see that and be calm in those moments how calm he was even if he was feeling a different way “It felt like some people were saying negative stuff for the sake of it That appetite has ramped up to the maximum in Blankenhain where England spent a final day on Friday before travelling to Berlin and looking to shape their destiny Discussions around bleach and body art may be hours away “I’ve never seen a group so motivated,” he said “English football is on a great path but it’s now time to show we can win We’ve got to the big moments and not quite done it since 1966 to take that next step and become champions.” 18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Gambleaware.org England's Euro 2024 campaign will begin next Sunday when they take on Serbia in Gelsenkirchen but Gareth Southgate and his squad will have already been in Germany for nearly a week by the time the match kicks off the England squad will fly to Germany before making their way over to their base camp in Blankenhain England's base camp for Euro 2024 has caused quite a stir for several reasons but mainly because it is based in East Germany hundreds of kilometres away from all three of their group matches Why have England decided to set up camp so far away from the tournament and what makes the base at Blankenhain so in demand it was confirmed that England's base camp for Euro 2024 would be the Weimarer Land Golf Hotel and Spa in Blankenhain The resort is a tranquil paradise with plenty of non-football-related activities available to keep the players relaxed and entertained in between matches the resort boasts three golf courses which will go down a treat with the majority of the squad is a big fan of golf while several other members of the squad also enjoy a round when they're not on the football pitch the base camp has two full-size football pitches in immaculate condition which will be used for training there are countless function rooms which Southgate will use to host team meetings and debriefs There are two swimming pools and a spa at the resort so the inflatable unicorns that have become popular at previous tournaments in the Southgate era should make another appearance there are seven restaurants to keep the players and staff well-fed The decision to base themselves in East Germany (one of only two teams at the tournament to do so) has raised plenty of eyebrows who worked for RB Leipzig between 2015 and 2019 was well aware of the resort due to its close proximity to Leipzig and wanted it as Austria's base for the tournament Germany reportedly would have picked the resort themselves were they not contractually obliged to use an Adidas base camp in Herzogenaurach The German squad most recently used the base ahead of their final warm-up game against Greece Thomas Müller left a letter to Harry Kane in Blankenhain wishing him luck for the Euros. The German national team left Blankenhain yesterday, which will be the base camp of England during the tournament [? @DFB_Team] pic.twitter.com/KzO6ABdks8 — Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) June 1, 2024 The hotel is seemingly perfect as a base camp in that has plenty of entertainment for players is welcoming for WAGs and families and is far away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city centre – something that has plagued England teams in the past Southgate had outlined what he believed made a perfect tournament base camp and the Weimarer Land Golf Hotel and Spa seems to tick most of his boxes “We need that nice contrast of relaxation and areas where we can work You want to minimise travel where you can but within the FA our staff are really good at picking venues that the players will enjoy and feel comfortable in The one downside to England's base camp is its distance from their group stage matches with England set to play Serbia in Gelsenkirchen Denmark in Frankfurt and Slovenia in Cologne Due to Euro 2024 billing itself as the most sustainable and green major tournament of all time there has been a push to no teams use air travel to get to matches but England are set to against that guidance for two of their three group matches For the match against Denmark in Frankfurt England will go via coach in what will be a 282km journey across Germany The total driving time will be around three hours for the matches in Gelsenkirchen and Cologne the England team will be flying in a move that is likely to infuriate thousands of people given how avoidable the entire situation is The closest airport to England's base camp is just under 50km away in Erfurt-Weimar and flying to Gelsenkirchen and Cologne will save them hefty coach trips that would exceed four hours FootballGroundGuide » Latest Football Stadium and Fan News » England’s base camp at Blankenhain: a guide Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker ENGLAND are set to stay at a 5-star golf and spa resort in a secluded part of Germany to avoid a repeat of the Baden-Baden Wag circus Gareth Southgate and the FA have chosen a base away from the buzz of big cities after Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Tweedy, Coleen Rooney and Abbey Clancy stole the show at the 2006 World Cup they will not base themselves in a big city like Hamburg or Berlin where partners could be tempted by the vibrant nightlife available they have decided the Golfresort Weimarer Land will be where they will stay during the tournament According to Bild, Ralf Rangnick had been keen for his Austria team to stay there He was reportedly aware of the "tranquility" of the surroundings during his time at RB Leipzig, one of the host venues of the tournament. The facility is one of the most spectacular golf resorts in Germany, with 45-holes to play. There are two 18-hole courses, as well as a nine-hole course. While that will give the players something to enjoy during their downtime, the most important aspect is the one and a half football pitches available to train on - making it ideal for training camps. Golfresort Weimarer Land was built in 2021, with the idea of attracting top international teams. as well as a wellness centre and spa - with seven different treatment rooms There are several conference rooms Southgate can use for video analysis and to give his side a teamtalk Seven restaurants on site also give the players plenty of catering options The latter offers fine dining with Mediterranean Francophile cuisine To book a room it costs around £300-per-night Werder Bremen, Rangers and QPR are among the teams to have previously held training camps at the resort Southgate hinted of a relaxing venue packed with facilities to entertain the players and staff "We need that nice contrast of relaxation and areas where we can work," he said "You want to minimise travel where you can but within the FA our staff are really good at picking venues that the players will enjoy and feel comfortable in "You want to be somewhere where you can zone out from everything that’s going on around you Last time England played in a German World Cup Sven Goran-Eriksson's Three Lions lost to Portugal in the quarter-finals as their escapades were said to be a distraction for the players Southgate believes a balance is important, and wants to welcome families, but doesn't want a repeat of when the Wags took over Baden-Baden "I wasn’t involved in that tournament so I don’t know how all that was but we have a great environment with our players," Southgate said We normally welcome them in at various times and those elements are important for the players "Really we want somewhere where we can be a little bit on our own." England are set to choose a remote five-star hotel with a 45-hole golf facility as their base in Germany for Euro 2024 It has two 18-hole courses and a nine-hole course Gareth Southgate’s side qualified for next summer’s tournament last month with Saturday evening’s draw in Hamburg set to confirm which teams they will face in the group stage The England manager has spoken publicly of his preference for a more remote base for him his players and their families with the Football Association making a number of visits across the country to assess viable options the hotel is only a 40-minute drive from the city of Erfurt — which also has an airport — and is expected to be the squad’s base for the duration of their stay at the competition that kicks off on June 14 and runs until July 14 A final decision is yet to be made and they could still opt to switch if their matches end up being staged at stadiums in cities further away Weimarer Land is best connected to Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park Weimarer Land was not on the hotel shortlist — referred to as “best base camp options” — drawn up by UEFA after officials visited 100 hotels and training facilities across Germany the team that registers their interest first However they can then lose the hotel if another interested team are playing their matches at venues that are closer for environmental reasons England would not have to follow these rules the hotel also boasts two full-size football pitches It has 94 rooms and suites that cost around £300 a night too dangerous and the one with inflatable unicorns said two years later: “We became a bit of a circus.” He added: “Football almost became a secondary element to the main event People were worrying more about what people were wearing or where people were going than the England football team.” Southgate has said there will be no repeat but is keen to create a welcoming atmosphere for those around the team and I think those elements are important for the players,” he said last week “We want to be somewhere where we can be a little bit on our own We need that nice contrast of relaxation and areas where we can work You want to minimise travel where you can but our staff are really good at picking those venues that I think the players will enjoy and will feel comfortable in “You basically want to be somewhere where everything that’s going on around you but somewhere with facilities that are good for working.” Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park and Hertha Berlin’s Olympiastadion Berlin will all host six matches each across the competition Everything you need to know about the Euro 2024 group-stage draw Tom Burrows is a football news writer for The Athletic UK. He was previously a staff editor for three years. Prior to that, he worked on news and investigations for national newspapers. Follow Tom on Twitter @TBurrows16 England continue to prepare for their Group C opener against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday at their training base in Blankenhain Harry Kane revealed Bayern Munich team-mate Thomas Muller left him a good luck note ahead of Euro 2024 which warned him of the German weather as the England skipper reckoned locals now had a “soft spot” for him and his international team-mates while staying at the same hotel that their German equivalents used a fortnight earlier Kane returns to Germany after a first season at Bayern Munich following his switch from Tottenham last summer the 30-year-old hit 44 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions Team-mate Muller left him a personalised message when checking out of the hotel where England have started to win over the locals because they were here just a couple of weeks ago,” he said “He said the golf course is great but the weather has not been so good the hotel is incredible and to be in Germany is a bit of a home from home Kane believes his arrival in Bavaria has also seen some Germans develop a fondness for Gareth Southgate’s side “The reception I’ve had since I’ve been at Bayern has been incredible and ever since I’ve been in the hotel I’ve had some of the staff come up and say hello,” he added but I think they have a little soft spot for us – now I’m here – and that’s fantastic.” Kane is England’s all-time leading goalscorer with an impressive 63 goals in 91 caps He will break another record when he leads the team out at the Veltins Arena on Sunday becoming the first man to captain England into four major tournaments “Being England captain and leading the boys out is probably the highest privilege I can have as a player and I’ll never take that for granted,” he added so I’m hoping we go to the very end and go on and win “We’ve had some really good moments and I’ve personally had some really good moments but ultimately we’re here to win the Euros and that’s hopefully what we can do especially when you get out to the host nation settle into the hotel and see where everything is “Hopefully it’s going to be our camp for a good four or five weeks the preparation starts and you watch the first game Germany vs Scotland and that’s when it really kicks in Stones is believed to have a sickness bug and was kept in his room away from his England teammates in an effort to stop any chance of the illness spreading. The situation is not ideal for Southgate , who will hope Stones, the squad’s most experienced centre-back, will be well enough to return to training on Thursday. The Manchester City defender is certain to play against Serbia if he is fit and is likely to be partnered by Marc Guéhi who started both of England’s warm-up matches But while Stones has quickly shaken off his ankle problem it would have been preferable for him to be present in training as the defence looked ahead to shutting out Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic will be pushing to start with Guéhi if Stones’s health does not improve before the weekend This is Dunk’s first tournament and he struggled during England’s friendlies against Belgium and Brazil in March. There was surprise when the 32-year-old was picked instead of Eric Dier in Southgate’s ­provisional training squad for Euro 2024 and some critics believed that he was fortunate to be selected over Jarrad Branthwaite in the final 26-man party who is confident that he has recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of Brighton’s final game of the season will back himself to step up if Stones is absent There are a few days until Sunday and we’ll see what happens and hopefully we can take the trophy home.” Dunk is one of 12 players in the squad with no tournament experience Southgate has had to adjust without Maguire who has been a constant next to Stones in central defence Dunk and Guéhi have a combined total of 17 caps and are untested at this level The same applies to Ezri Konsa and Joe Gomez the other centre-backs selected by Southgate.Yet Dunk was defiant when it was suggested that England’s defence could be vulnerable in Germany That is your opinion and you are entitled to it but inside the dressing room and inside the camp we are as confident as ever We wouldn’t be here if the manager didn’t think we could play for England Of course there’s some inexperienced ones in a tournament situation but I’ve got the experienced ones to ask questions to and they’re more than happy to help me out and give me advice on anything so I’ve played a lot of games and once you cross the white line you’re just going to do everything you can to win.” Dunk wears the armband for Brighton and is vocal during games “That’s one of my strengths on the football pitch Off the pitch I’m not the loudest or the most outspoken but on the pitch I’m outspoken and I’m there to win Dunk has shaken off the error that led to Romelu Lukaku creating a goal for Youri Tielemans when England drew with Belgium in March “That camp didn’t go as I would have liked,” he said I had to come back into the pre-camp and show as much as I could Football is a game of opinions and the one that matters is the manager of England.” Gareth Southgate’s England squad have arrived at their remote base in Germany to ramp up their European Championship preparations The Euro 2020 runners-up are considered among the favourites to go one better and lift the trophy in Berlin on July 14th England begin their quest to become kings of the continent in Sunday’s Group C opener against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen which is around 200 miles from their tournament base Southgate’s side will be staying and training at Spa and Golf Resort Weimarer Land situated in the small town of Blankenhain in the middle of Germany The resort was used by the German national team in the build-up to Euro 2024 and England arrived at the base they hope to call home for the next five weeks at around 7pm on Monday Locals joined media in waving in the Euros-branded England coach The team left Birmingham for Germany on Monday afternoon before making the 40-minute drive from the city of Erfurt to their basecamp The day began with a special visitor at St George’s Park where the Prince of Wales met players and staff before they departed for the Euros The Football Association president presented the players with their squad numbers for the tournament and wished the group well including sharing some advice from Prince Louis Heir to the throne William said: “I was on the school run this morning with the children and I said ‘What shall I say to the England team today?’ “The best bit of advice I got to ask you was to eat twice the amount you normally would eat I then had visions of all of you running around with massive great tummies and loads of stitches on the pitch so I think maybe take my youngest’s advice with a pinch of salt.” the team received a send-off from excited local children The players signed autographs for the flag-waving kids who chanted “Football’s Coming Home” as the coach pulled away from St George’s Park who linked up with the squad on Sunday after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid “Obviously a great send-off here and hopefully we can make them proud.” Eberechi Eze said ahead of leaving for his first major tournament: “It’s a beautiful experience.” Digital sport journalistPublished: Invalid Date ENGLAND are taking over a luxury 94-room resort for Euro 2024 - but will leave their Wags 20 miles away The FA have reportedly paid £800,000 to book the whole of a German golf and spa centre which even boasts a robot to collect dishes But the Three Lions are taking their own chefs and are expected to avoid having the players' partners anywhere near It's claimed the FA are seen to ensure no repeat of the "circus" seen the last time England competed in Germany in a major tournament That was when the Three Lions limped through to a quarter-final exit against Portugal on penalties in the 2006 World Cup The likes of Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole, Alex Gerrard and Coleen Rooney made unwanted headlines back then 'DISCARDED' I was Fergie's first Man Utd signing - but they left me like a crisp packetAnd it appears the FA are being ultra safe this time around They've secured the Weimarer Land Golf and Spa resort in Blankenhain it's understood the Wags are looking into staying at a five-star hotel 40 minutes away by car Manager Gareth Southgate is tipped to have one of the Weimarer's top three suites, with the golf-themed names of Birdie, Albatross and Eagle. Meanwhile, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Co will have timber-lined rooms or suites Room service will be extra easy - as every man gets a hand-held digital pad linked to the resort's staff breakfast will be typical of the venue's normal service organic sourdough breads and eggs are on the menu alongside fresh orange juice and locally-produced honey The FA are relying on their own chefs for dinner - to help guarantee perfect sporting nutrition But Michelin chefs Danny Schwabe and Marcello Fabbri - from the Weimarer's Augusta and Masters restaurants - will provide an al a carte menu it's well above par for a venue as the hosts of the England squad Now it's up to Southgate's Lions as the visitors on the pitch to be up to scratch as they bid for their first major trophy since 1996 Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ By AADAM PATEL Matthias Grafe tells Mail Sport he will never forget the day the England manager came to his resort in this quiet town in the heart of Germany He recalls how Gareth Southgate wasn't fussed that the football pitch was covered by a blanket of snow but instantly knew his mind was made up to serve the players and collect their dishes Grafe insists that Germany wanted to use the resort had it not been for their contractual agreement that forces them to stay at Adidas' HQ the German team will base themselves at the resort next week for a pre-tournament training camp before moving on to their base camp in Herzogenaurach once England arrive England will be based at the Weimarer Land Spa and Golf resort throughout Euro 2024 Germany will take up residence for a pre-tournament competition before England arrive  England's players will be served by Robbie the Robot who only speaks German but will collect the squad's dishes 'It was winter and the pitch was under 20 centimetres of snow when Southgate came after the draw It's remarkable because he was the only coach who didn't see the pitch,' says Grafe 'The England officials came very late compared to the others and I remember someone from the FA coming alone before and saying to me "This is the 33rd different hotel I've visited Why didn't I start here?" And then Southgate came,' Grafe reveals His resort wasn't even on the official 100-strong shortlist provided by Uefa to teams given its location in Thuringia, at least three hours drive away from any of the venues where England play their group games but it was recommended by QPR sporting director Les Ferdinand to the England manager with then manager Michael Beale returning with Glasgow Rangers the following summer It is that far away from any major city that the local castle in Blankenhain is in the process of getting converted into a media centre to accommodate the travelling press With Uefa keen to make this tournament the most environmentally friendly on record teams have been advised to make journeys of around three hours on rail or road to reduce emissions so England face a six-hour round trip by coach to Frankfurt for their second group game against Denmark With the other group games against Serbia and Slovenia in Gelsenkirchen and Cologne respectively and over four hours away from their base preparations were well under way with the construction of a helipad on-site among various other changes the resort will become a high-security zone split into three sections with police controlling the first layer at the external perimeter of the forest surrounding the resort The luxurious complex which England will have exclusively also features a room filled with water beds  England have exclusive access to all 94 rooms with another three possessing private saunas and free-standing bathtubs England will face three long trips from their base in Blankenhain during the group stages Matthias Grafe is the owner of the 40,000 acre resort nestled in a forest on the outskirts of Blankenhain Hotel staff were quick to tell Mail Sport that they can't wait for the England team to arrive The bar which houses a collection of 300 fine wines will shut down and will instead operate as a makeshift smoothie bar for the players The hotel even has an opulent cigar lounge which is named in honour of legendary American golfer Bobby Jones Perhaps a place reserved for celebration only Hotel staff tell us they can't wait for England to arrive but have been warned not to ask players for pictures On our ride on a golf buggy to the training pitch across the resort we're told that the England players won't be allowed to use these buggies because of the risk of injury they will be transported via bus around the resort for training fences are up around the pitch to ensure training (and penalty practice) can be done in secrecy and to ensure there is no repeat of Spygate – when a Leeds intern under Marcelo Bielsa was caught watching Derby train prior to their trip to Elland Road in 2019 'This fence was one of the things Southgate wanted more than anything,' says Grafe 'I told him I even own the forest so I will find any spies and kick them out,' he jokes even the grass will be the same as Wembley The FA's greenkeepers arranged to put the same seed in as the Wembley grass The pitch is the most important thing but I told them that don't forget this is Germany and come July 14 England will do everything they can to replicate the feel of home and as Mail Sport revealed in March even the scent of St George's Park will be transported to Germany to provide a sense of familiarity for the players as England aim to create an optimal environment There are three special fragrances – one for the main area another for the gym and recreation areas and another for the players' bedrooms Just like they did at their Al Wakrah base in Qatar where Three Lions frosting was added to the windows the base will undergo a complete transformation with England branding wherever you look In order to help make the Three Lions feel as at home as possible the smell from St George's Park will also be transported to the hotel complex There are no English-language menus for diners but England will bring their own chefs and nutritionists Three of the best suites at the resort have golf-themed names - Albatross The on-site golf courses with some 45 holes should keep the players entertained during their down time The resort also features communal areas for the team to watch football and play Uno which is known to be popular among the squad with the three best suites having golf-themed names like Albatross each of which includes a private sauna and a free-standing bath tub Southgate will likely occupy one of these suites When Southgate visited the site the pitch was under 20cm of snow The simple timber-clad rooms for the players will have their own special touches with personal accessories and mementos from their families and England are going as far as taking their own high quality bed-linen and personalised Three Lions bath robes with embroidered badges None of the six on-site restaurants have English-language menus but England will travel with a dedicated team of chefs and dieticians living with them On days that families will be allowed in by Southgate – which is only expected to be on the day after a match as the team wind down – up to 300 guests can reside at the resort but there is unlikely to be a repeat of Baden-Baden in 2006 when the WAGs created as many headlines as the players Based up the road from England's base under Sven Goran Eriksson in Buhl the usually quiet spa town of Baden-Baden was thrust into the spotlight after reports of drunken dancing on tables and sky-high hotel bills From Victoria Beckham taking 60 pairs of sunglasses to bottles of Veuve Clicquot being drunk through straws and a £57,000 hour-long shopping trip the headlines didn't stop as the likes of Coleen Rooney Cheryl Cole and Abbey Clancy all left their mark The German newspaper Bild reported: 'It has turned into Shopping-Shopping in Baden-Baden.' 'We became a bit of a circus,' Rio Ferdinand later admitted Eriksson had lobbied hard for the venue which the FA felt was secluded and encouraged the players to bring their families if they wanted only 19-year-old Aaron Lennon didn't bring a partner The resort boasts one and a half training pitches aimed at catering for top international sides Rangers and QPR are among the teams to have previously used the base Sven-Goran Eriksson's England side of 2006 became 'a bit of a circus' as Rio Ferdinand later admitted There will be plenty of space for England's favourite inflatable unicorns at both indoor and outdoor swimming pools The resort is isolated such that it is encased in tranquility ideal for the players' recovery and build-up in between matches Southgate has promised the families they will be able to meet the players but he has made it clear he will assess when and how that will be once the tournament has kicked off The nearest city to England's camp is medieval Erfurt who wants his players to be free from any distraction as they bid to end England's 58-year trophy drought Eriksson defended the off-pitch activities in 2006 but the aftermath was so bad that Fabio Capello decided to ban families and friends four years later in South Africa at a remote base camp in Rustenburg That backfired when star names such as John Terry and Wayne Rooney said they were bored and isolated That is something England officials have taken on board in recent campaigns under Southgate 'The greatest fear is that of boredom,' says Grafe 'One of the biggest challenges is not to get bored – remember It's a home and everything will be arranged to make it feel like a home.' a padel court was installed at the site at the request of former Germany manager Hansi Flick and England have specifically requested basketball courts Harry Maguire and Jude Bellingham expected to be regulars It was more expensive than that but I told the English team "Hey And they said our footballers like basketball and our main sponsor is Nike so can you construct some basketball courts I can tell you it was cheaper than the padel courts,' Grafe adds There will be a games area with table tennis darts and pool tables and a communal area for the team to watch football and play Uno The inflatable unicorns that have become a feature in recent campaigns are expected to return with England having the choice of both indoor and outdoor pools England's coaching staff will be able to use a series of conference centres to plan for matches A fitness and wellness centre is located on site with several treatment facilities available Southgate has promised England players' families will be invited to visit the Euros camp but he will assess when that time will come once the tournament has begun Grafe hopes that FA president Prince William will visit the resort at some point during the competition England enter the Euros as the favourites to go all the way ahead of France and hosts Germany  Gareth Southgate's side will be looking to go one better than the last tournament and win a first major competition since the 1966 World Cup which proved a playground for players' WAGs Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace) Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) the on-site golf courses with 45 holes should keep the players busy They book the hotel and exclusive use of one of the golf courses,' Grafe adds There is even talk among the players to install a golf simulator and challenge the media to see who can hit the longest drive the players have played darts with the press the hope is that Prince William as President of the FA will visit during the tournament to meet the squad 'The origin of the Windsor family is not far from here The original family name is Saxe-Coburg-Gotha They changed their name after the war so nobody could link them to the Germans,' he says I had the vision to not just turn this into a Uefa base camp but to have the 2024 European champions here I told all of the managers that I want the future European champions so England have to win now because I chose them 'The Germans would have stayed here if they could I just hope it doesn't go to penalties because you know what that means!' The comments below have not been moderated We are no longer accepting comments on this article The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group England's WAGs are set to be kept 20 miles from their footballer partners during this summer's Euros to prevent a repeat of the 'circus' that engulfed the team the last time the players competed in Germany Gareth Southgate will base his squad in a luxury remote golf and spa resort while his players' wives and partners are said to be considering a five-star hotel which is around a 40-minute drive away England will stay at the Weimarer Land Golf and Spa resort in Blankenhain - costing around £800,000 with all 94 rooms secured by the FA MailOnline visited the hotel to find out what the players are in store for this June - and found they will want for nothing This is the Swimming pool area at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort where the England football team will be based during Euro 2024 Sitting area at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort This is the Champions hall in Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort where team meetings will take place during the Euro 2024 tournament Golf course and driving range at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort The Gym at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort where the England football team will be based during Euro 2024 England's Jude Bellingham celebrates with Declan Rice Sommelier Thomas Sobbe holds a Bottle of Valpolicella at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort where the England football team will be based during Euro 2024 Swimming pool area at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort The England stars may like a tipple only when not on international or club duty but their hotel will still have racks of the choicest wines displayed as they move around the hotel The dinner menu will be masterminded by chefs hired and brought in by the Football Association to ensure they have the best nutritional foods Cabinet of wine at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort where the England football team will be based during Euro 2024 Meeting room at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort England's WAGs are set to be kept 20 miles from their footballer partners during this summer's Euros to prevent a repeat of the 'circus' that engulfed the team the last time the players competed in Germany Each player will have timber-clad rooms or suites and be provided with hand-held digital pads to ensure their every wish is the hotel's command Southgate is likely to occupy one of the resort's three best suites named Birdie and Eagle which each have their own exclusive sauna and free-standing bathtubs comfy sofas and additional walk-in showers filled with Clarins bathroom accessories Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold will breakfast in brightly lit restaurants with salmon organic sourdough breads and eggs and freshly squeezed orange juice on the menu along with locally produced honey The dinner menu will be masterminded by chefs hired and brought in by the Football Association to ensure they have the best nutritional foods to help them give their utmost when competing in the month-long tournament which kicks off on June 14 when Germany host Scotland But the FA kitchen staff will have Michelin chefs Danny Schwabe and Marcello Fabbri from the complex's The Augusta and The Masters restaurants on hand to provide food al a carte The two top chefs' specialities include smoked roast beef with celery and focaccia pink veal fillets with herbs and sauteed bread dumplings with beetroot and melted onions The hotel's robot Robbie will motor around the team bringing dishes from the kitchen and removing them after use Sommelier Thomas Stobbe said: 'The players might not be drinking The most expensive is a 2001 Amarone Valpolicella which costs around £680 a bottle is likely to remain empty as the international stars move in the footballers will be able to use two 18-hole golf courses and a nine-hole course who is learning German while a player for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich may have to assist his teammates as course maps inside golf course buggies are in German as well as evacuation instructions around the hotel Southgate and his players can enjoy exclusive use of spas Each player is to be provided with a jute bag containing a brown cotton robe and white peep-toe slippers players have to be showered and robed before entering the sterile basement complex But there will be no pressure to join in the German sauna culture at Weimarer of nudity which is the norm there Despite the rooms having robes for the players England will take their own high-end bed linen and players will also be given Three Lions bath robes with embroidered badges Eating area in 1 of the 2 Michelin Star Restraunts at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort Sitting area and bar at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort The players will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the entertainments Sitting area with a view of the golf course at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort where the England football team will be based during Euro 2024 Eating area in 1 of the 2 Michelin Star Restraunts at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort where the England football team will be based during Euro 2024 This is a suite which England manager Gareth Southgate could stay in at Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort during the Euro 2024 tournament A player's bedroom at the Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort where the England football team will be based during Euro 2024 FA officials have been busy preparing for the team's arrival in Germany and an advance party is due back there in a fortnight to check on preparations Coleen McLoughlin girlfriend of Wayne Rooney and Victoria Beckham GERMANY - JUNE 15: Coleen McLoughlin (back row the fiancee of Ashley Cole and Victoria Beckham (R) attend the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Group B match between England and Trinidad and Tobago at the Frankenstadion on June 15 pictures of the players' families will feature and be placed in their rooms and fragrances with hints of bergamot lily and jasmine will be sprayed around the hotel to help provide a 'calming' atmosphere Their team meetings to discuss tactics and assessments of opponents Serbia Denmark and Slovenia who they meet in the initial group matches will be held in the hotel's 'Champions Hall' where 23 seats for the team a drawing board and lectern for Mr Southgate have been installed For those players who want to hit the golf courses their rooms will have two free tees with complimentary chocolates on their table and clubs are provided with the courses surrounded by idyllic pine trees and forest land chess and a cinema screen streaming the latest movies there is also a touch of low budget provided by hotel management – with a vending machine providing fizzy drinks and packets of Haribos at £2 a throw on the second floor where most players will stay A massive security cordon will be thrown around the venue with only players and staff allowed access Southgate is believed to have chosen the venue which is set almost a mile from the main road to allow his players freedom from any intrusions or diversions England's team HQ was initially Germany's preferred choice - but the Germans will now check in and check out a week before Southgate's team arrive as the FA got in first The Germans will stay at the venue and use the training facilities but be forced to leave at the end of May to give staff time to prepare for England's visit from June 8th The last time England played in a major tournament in Germany was at the 2006 World Cup when the WAGs became a major distraction around the team's HQ in Baden Baden A source said: 'Everyone at the hotel is excited that not only Germany It is going to be an incredible time with these stars walking around 'We have been instructed not to speak about our clients and we respect that But we have heard they are really friendly guys and we cannot help being so happy that they are coming.' Southgate has promised the WAGs they will be able to meet the players but he has made it plain he will assess when and how that will be once Euro 2024 has kicked off - and they will be kept at a secure distance The decision on the WAGs' base was informed by what happened in World Cup 2006 in and around the England camp in Baden Baden The proximity then of the party of 20 plus glamorous WAGs at the Brenners Park Hotel overshadowed the England team - as media and public alike were daily obsessed by the women shopping in high end fashion stores and swigging champagne in local bars At times then England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson gave his players freedom to join the women during the World Cup which saw the team disappointingly eliminated in the quarter finals against Portugal for the second tournament in a row Much criticism followed and the WAGS were blamed for taking the players' attention away from the football FA insiders insist that lessons have been learned since 2006 - and consequently England will diplomatically keep the women at a distance but offer them opportunities to meet with the football stars when considered appropriate - according to the fixture and training schedule and they will be given assistance in moving around Germany during the tournament MailOnline can reveal the women and children and other family members are set to stay at the Dorint Hotel in Erfurt is a few minutes away from Major designer shops and has a spa and wellness centre which offers massage and yoga and there is a jogging route and fitness centre Restaurants are said to cater for every taste and cocktails flow in the hotel's bars This is the Dorint Hotel in Erfurt where the England football players' WAGs might stay This is the Dorint Hotel in Erfurt where the WAGs might stay A source told us: 'The FA know that they have to look after the wives and they did that in Qatar at the last World Cup' When asked about the tournament late last year - and how it would compare to 2006 Southgate said diplomatically: 'We want their families to be able to go and enjoy the tournament as well and those elements are important for the players.' But a source told us: 'The FA know that they have to look after the wives and they did that in Qatar at the last World Cup which is so much nearer and a larger number of family members are expected to travel 'There is no way that Gareth will allow a repetition of what happened in Germany in 2006 'The focus then was as much on the women as well as the footballers Everyone wants England to win this tournament and to do that they have to be allowed to focus on the matches and meet with their families when the time is right 'That will happen once England have secured a place in the next round after the initial three games But Gareth is mindful that it will be good for the players as well to meet with their families too.' He added: 'It certainly helps that the WAGs this time out are generally lower profile - typified by Harry Kane's wife Katie.' Other WAGS and family likely to attend are Harry Maguire's wife Fern - whose conversation with her husband after a match in Russia 2018 inspired a long-running meme - as well as Kyle Walker's partner Annie Kilner Phil Foden's partner Rebecca Cooke and his party-loving mum Claire Rowlands In Qatar at the World Cup England stayed at the Al-Wakrah beach resort and families were bussed in to meet players at arranged times MailOnline has learned that when the England squad arrive in Blankenhain around 170 miles south of the capital Berlin they will see what they may think is a good omen: the town is widely daubed in graffiti reading '1966' But this is not a case of German football fans seeking to welcome their great rivals by reminding them of a final they famously lost Instead it's just down to the fact that the nearest football team FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt are based in the same town England's WAGs will be in 20 miles away and are known as 1966 after the year they were founded it's hard to imagine players and fans who notice walls in the town near the hotel sprayed with '1966' will not in some small way feel it's a good omen This is graffiti displaying 1966 in the village of Blankenhain Yilmaz Yologlu who owns Alanya Grill wishes England luck during the Euros in the village of Blankenhain Certainly Erfurt fans appear excited about welcoming internationally renowned players in contrast to the lower league fare they are used to with their 1966 local team who runs the kebab shop Alanya Grill in Blankenhain said: 'In 1966 my team was made and it was England's lucky year too I don't mind if they have a good luck from it again at Euro 2024 They won the World Cup nearly 60 years ago 'But I understand how it feels for your team not to win 'Erfurt are 11th in the league in this region and have not won for five matches who lives in Blankenhain and supports Erfurt and Manchester United added: 'I am too young to know about England in 1966 I hope that Erfurt's 1966 connection will bring him and England all the good fortunes in 2024 I hope it makes them play with courage and Blankenhain blessings Fans are highly unlikely to seek out the remote England HQ and will stick to towns where the team will play If supporters do move into Blankenhain they will find little to do as the main street has one supermarket