For a nation that has frequently flattered to deceive at soccer바카라™s major tournaments, a card game that relies on the art of deception is strengthening the bond among England바카라™s players ahead of their match against Senegal in the World Cup round of 16. (More Football News)
Werewolf, a game of roleplay and deduction, has become a popular pastime for the squad between games.
바카라śIt바카라™s about being the best liar,바카라ť said midfielder Declan Rice. 바카라śThe villagers have got to snuff out the wolves and the wolves have got to lie and tell everyone why they are not a wolf. There is a lot of teamwork, ganging up.바카라ť
Whatever England is doing at its base in Qatar, it바카라™s working so far.
It plays Senegal on Sunday after topping Group B and tying Spain as leading scorers in the tournament so far with nine goals.
No other team picked up more than the seven points England recorded on its way to the knockout round and it is only one of three still undefeated.
Yet the message from coach Gareth Southgate and captain Harry Kane this week has been about maintaining focus and standards.
Belgium and Germany were high-profile departures from the group stage, while defending champion France, along with Argentina, Spain, Brazil and Portugal have all been on the wrong end of upsets.
And to think England바카라™s 0-0 draw with the United States was considered enough of a shock that it prompted loud jeers from Three Lions fans after that match last week.
바카라śI think it바카라™s always difficult when you see big teams or big players in teams that don바카라™t have the success that you want or don바카라™t live up to the expectation of a nation or where they see themselves,바카라ť said defender John Stones. 바카라śWe don바카라™t ever want to fall into that category. I think that is great motivation for us as a reminder 바카라” you never want to take anything for granted or who you are playing against.바카라ť
England may be considered a major soccer nation, but its only tournament success came when it hosted and won the World Cup in 1966.
The years since have been pitted with disappointment and underachievement.
There has been an upturn under Southgate, who led the team to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and to the final of last year바카라™s European Championship, which it lost on penalties to Italy.
The bond he has developed among the players is seen as a key factor in England바카라™s improvement.
Southgate is also meticulous about his planning, from psychological help to deal the pressure of taking penalties to even the most minor details.
At a team meeting this week, players were reminded about leaving their socks out the 바카라śright way바카라ť for the kitmen to collect after training.
바카라śWe get on each other for things like that because we have created those standards,바카라ť said Stones. 바카라śIf you start getting sloppy with the little things, the bigger things start to get sloppy very easily. Any one percent or two percent of things that we can do to get better 바카라¦ obviously those are small things, but they matter to us.바카라ť
So there should be no danger of England taking Senegal lightly.
The African Cup of Nations winner finished second in Group A behind the Netherlands. That was despite suffering the pre-tournament disappointment of star striker Sadio Mane being ruled out.
바카라śThey바카라™re knockout games now: if you win, you get to stay here; if you lose, you go home,바카라ť said Senegal coach Aliou CissĂ©. 바카라śThere바카라™s no need to overthink things, every team is at the same level.
바카라śOur squad is experienced today, they바카라™ve gone through a lot together and they know how to prepare for this type of game now, in competitions like this one,바카라ť he added.
