TWO MEN CHARGED OVER THEFT OF ENGLAND EQUIPMENT AT WORLD CUP

Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal each face a count of receiving stolen property

Two stuffed lions, a Lego set and some expensive football boots were among the items taken in the “heist” that hit England on the way to their World Cup base in Kansas City.

Having enjoyed a smooth, injury-free warm weather training camp in Florida, the Football Association had to deal with an unexpected headache in the Midwest on Friday night.

Equipment was discovered missing upon arriving at their Swope Soccer Village base, with Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas saying “local, state and federal” officials were working on the “heist in transit of English national team equipment”.

Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson has charged two men in connection with the incident, with Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal each facing a count of receiving stolen property carrying up to seven years in prison.

The pair drove England team equipment from their warm weather facility in West Palm Beach to Kansas City and a detective recovered an estimated 18,145.41 dollars (£13,530) worth of items.

Court documents show four pairs of £250 boots and five pairs of £170 shoes were allegedly found, along with some signed national team shirts, a £160 World Cup ball and a pair of £120 goalkeeper gloves.

Two stuffed lions and a Lego set of a Nike Air shoe were among the variety of other items.

The FA indicated to the Press Association earlier on Saturday that most of the training gear had been recovered ahead of the first session at Swope Soccer Village.

England back-up goalkeeper Dean Henderson said with a smile when asked if his boots and gloves made it to Kansas City: “Yeah, thankfully. I think they got stolen but we got them back so it’s all good.”

Dean Henderson was able to make light of the theft (PA)

Experienced defender Dan Burn found out about the incident through the media reports, joking he “wouldn’t be able to move very much” if his boots had not turned up.

“We’ve not made a big deal out of it,” he said. “I’ve got everything I need, so I’m quite happy.

“We know that stuff has been left to the police and as a group we’ve not really spoken about that at all.”

Asked if the FA had spoken to the players, Burn added: “To be honest, it’s not really been spoken about, so I think that shows for us that they’re not too worried about it as well.

“We’re here to train. The first day out here, so it’s not disrupted our preparation.”

England kick-off their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday and Kansas City mayor Lucas said: “I am grateful for the quick work of the Kansas City Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office in resolving an investigation across several states, helping crime victims recover goods stolen in transit, and ensuring the accused will face prosecution.

“Kansas City’s public safety leadership will continue to ensure all are safe and offenders will be held accountable swiftly for any misconduct.”

Jackson County prosecutor Johnson added: “Jackson County will not tolerate any criminal activity that targets World Cup visitors, including the international teams that have travelled here to compete.

“We thank the Kansas City Police Department and our on-call attorneys for their quick work investigating this incident and filing charges immediately. Our office is committed to holding these individuals accountable.”

- Simon Peach, PA

ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP PREPARATIONS THROWN INTO CHAOS IN BIZZARE CIRCUMSTANCES

 The Three Lions begin their World Cup journey against Croatia on Wednesday.

England is hoping for a strong showing this summer. | Alex Menendez/Getty Images

England stars saw a number of pairs of match boots stolen from a team vehicle in Kansas City, Missouri, less than one week before their World Cup opener against Croatia.

“We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening,” a police statement read.

According to the Daily Mail, the equipment, including tournament balls and other training apparatus, was being transported from Florida to Missouri as the Three Lions set up their base for the World Cup, only for the vehicle carrying the items to be targeted as it awaited unloading at the final destination.

Player footwear was among the most important equipment stolen during the incident. The Athletic note the majority of the items have since been recovered.

ESPN add that two suspects have been taken into custody. “The investigation is ongoing,” said the the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.

England Avoids Massive Complication

England arrives at the tournament in strong form. | Eddie Keogh/The FA/Getty Images

The England squad are due to hold a public training session at the Swope Soccer Village on Saturday, although whether this incident will complicate plans remains to be seen.

Thomas Tuchel’s side now have five days to prepare for their opening fixture against Croatia on June 17. Thankfully, it appears as though the team’s biggest names will have all their necessary gear to ensure their preparations are not thoroughly disrupted.

Many elite players often wear custom boots, some even specifically sculpted around that player’s foot to ensure the perfect fit. Clearly, to lose equipment of that value would have a significant impact just days before a World Cup opener.

Similarly, many players will have gear suited to the specific nature of the grass in any given stadium, designed to try and maximize every possible detail at this summer’s tournament.

Once team officials take stock of the recovered goods, they will be released to Tuchel and his coaching staff to help in drills and training sessions. Again, whether any plans will be impacted by the theft is up in the air.

England officials will do their best to shield the team from this issue, keen to let the players focus solely on their on-field duties.

After Wednesday’s opener against Croatia, FIFA’s fourth-ranked nation have six days to prepare for a game against Ghana, before closing out the group stage against Panama on June 27.

- Tom Gott

JOHN TERRY CLAIMS 11 ENGLAND PLAYERS ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR WORLD CUP

Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

John Terry has questioned ‘three or four’ of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup picks and claims 11 England players are not good enough to be in the squad.

The Three Lions face Costa Rica on Wednesday night in their final warm-up game before beginning their World Cup campaign next week against Croatia.

Tuchel’s 26-man squad has divided opinion and Chelsea legend Terry ‘disagrees’ with several of the players who were chosen to represent England out in the United States.

Terry believes Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw should both have been picked and says Tuchel was ‘wrong’ to omit Chelsea star Cole Palmer.

Assessing England’s squad more generally, Terry believes Tuchel is reliant on ’14 or 15 starters’ and has questioned whether the ‘rest of the squad’ can contribute to a World Cup win.

‘First of all, I really like him [England boss Thomas Tuchel],’ Terry said on Piers Morgan Uncensored.

‘Obviously, seeing his work around Chelsea, when he was there, he brought success for us in the Champions League as well.

And what I like about him, he’s not afraid to make these big decisions, and I think we’ve seen that in his squad.

‘Now, that’s something I disagree with actually, in terms of the players that he’s not picked for this World Cup.

‘Harry Maguire being one, the first one. For me, he’s a better player than Dan Burn and now if the other two get injured, whether that’s John Stones coming in, I’d much rather Harry Maguire there and be the one coming in.

‘I think he always poses a big threat from set plays as well late on, and I know Dan Burn poses that threat as well, when he can play at left-back being a left sider.

‘But I would have Harry Maguire there every day of the week. Luke Shaw is another one at left back. We’re looking at Nico O’Reilly playing there.

‘I think someone like him needs someone like Luke Shaw around the place to help him, settle him, give him a little bit of advice because he is the future of us in our next World Cups coming up.

‘Cole Palmer is the next big decision as well. So I think he’s got it wrong in three or four big decisions on the pitch, actually. I think you need your best players, the further you get in these World Cups.

‘I don’t think Djed Spence is the future for England, for me. I think he’s had a poor season, Spurs have been really poor as well, so you can definitely argue that one.

‘But for me, I just think you need to have your best players there. When I look at it, I’m looking at the team now, there’s probably 14, 15 starters… there’s only 13, 14 or 15 players that can play if we’re going to win this World Cup.

‘When I look at the rest of the squad around me, I’m not sure they’re going to push the players who are going to be playing.’

England turn their attentions to Ghana and Panama after facing Croatia in their World Cup opener as they look to get out of Group L.

The Three Lions are bidding to win the World Cup for the first time since 1966, having came agonisingly close to winning a major trophy under former boss Sir Gareth Southgate.

England reached back-to-back European Championship finals under Southgate and went deep in two World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 2018 and the quarters four years ago.

- Louis Sealey

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Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah received a first-senior call for England as manager Gareth Southgate named his squad for next week's Euro 2024 Group C clash away to Ukraine.

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