FORMER Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has the hump after England beat his Austria squad to their five-star Euro 2024 base in Blankenhain.
The Three Lions arrived at the Spa & Golf Resort Weimarer Land yesterday and they will tomorrow train on the pitches for the first time.
Today, they trained in front of youngsters at a German fourth division ground in the city of Jena.
But they will be based in Blankenhain for the rest of the time and Rangnick failed in his bid to have Austria stay there – as England got there first.
In his four years as Leipzig coach, Rangnick used to play golf at the resort as it was his favourite course in the region – so he wanted to remain there all the time during Euro 2024.
Germany also trained in Blankenhain last week but they were always set to return to their normal base which is near adidas HQ outside Nuremberg.
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England will train in Blankenhain for the next four days before flying to Gelsenkirchen on Saturday afternoon for Sunday’s Euro 2024 opener with Serbia.
Meanwhile, Austria are based in Berlin, with Rangnick’s side training at Mommsenstadion, the home of sixth tier Tennis Borussia Berlin.
The 2008 co-hosts face France in their opening match on Monday before clashes with Poland and the Netherlands in group D.
As for the Three Lions, they follow their match against Serbia by facing Denmark in Frankfurt on June 20.
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Meet the ROBOT waiter looking after England stars at the Euros
ENGLAND stars will be served by a ROBOT called Robbie at the Euros.
Robbie is a key part of 160-strong staff at the vast 350-acre leisure site at Blankenhain, eastern Germany, where Gareth Southgate’s squad will be staying for the tournament.
The real-life WALL-E – kitted out in a Germany shirt with the name Kehrbart and the squad number 24 on it – helps out in the restaurant.
Robbie, with flashing blue eyes, says phrases in German including “Excuse me” and “Please let me get on with my work” as he collects dishes from guests at one of the hotel’s six restaurants.
A source told The Sun: “Robbie is usually a slate grey colour with flashing blue eyes and helps staff deliver plates and dishes.
“But the German team stayed at the hotel recently so he was given a new look and new name to support them.
“I’m not sure whether the England team will want to change his look when they arrive but a Three Lions shirt and an English name might be a good idea.”
Find out all about Robbie the robot waiter…
Gareth Southgate’s men will then conclude the group stage against Slovenia in Cologne five days later.
Ahead of the Serbia clash, all 26 members of the England squad trained on Tuesday.
After arriving at their base on Monday, the players took part in their first session in Germany at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld.
The 15,000-capacity ground is the home of Carl Zeiss Jena. who reached the Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1981.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
