GERMANY have begun their preparations for the Euro 2020 clash with England – by giving the players an extra day off.
Joachim Low’s side face the Three Lions on Tuesday with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs in a match which has caught the imagination of England.
But while Gareth Southgate’s squad are now working hard at St George’s Park on a game plan to beat the Germans, it is far more relaxed within Low’s camp.
For the manager has decided to give his players a second day off to rest following the 2-2 draw against Hungary on Tuesday night which secured second spot in Group F.
It has been decided the players will benefit more from an extra 24 hours of relaxation than being put through their paces on the training ground.
Instead, Germany will only train properly on Saturday and Sunday before going through a light session ahead of making the flight to the UK on Monday.
England, meanwhile, were back on the training pitches at St George’s Park on Friday and looked in good spirits.
The Three Lions’ newest superstar Bukayo Saka was brought back to earth in savage style by team-mate Marcus Rashford.
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The Arsenal teen – who was man of the match in Tuesday’s win over Czech Republic – was cheekily nutmegged by Rashford.
England posted a video of the moment which left Saka, 19, red-faced and his team-mates in hysterics.
England manager Gareth Southgate had a beaming smile on his face as he spoke to coach Chris Powell.
Raheem Sterling, who has scored both England goals in the tournament so far, was among the group on the training pitch.
And Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, who could well be joining Sterling at Man City, looked to be having fun.
Bundesliga stars Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham also trained with their Three Lions team-mates on Friday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk