England faces a big World Cup disappointment after being on the losing end of a tough match.
England is one of the favorites for this summer’s World Cup because of their great players and manager. But they’ve hit a bump just before their first game – some of their gear was stolen.
Thomas Tuchel and his team started off well in the USA, winning games against New Zealand and Costa Rica. The Three Lions are in the last group of the World Cup and will play their first match on Wednesday against Croatia.
It won’t be an easy game since England lost to Croatia in the 2018 semi-finals, and Croatia did really well in the 2022 World Cup by finishing third.
According to the Daily Mail, England’s preparation might be tougher now because some of their equipment went missing. The stolen items include boots from some of their star players, official tournament balls, and important training gear.
The theft happened while the equipment was being moved from West Palm Beach in Florida to England’s base at Swope Soccer Village in Missouri, where they’ll stay for at least the next three weeks.
The team was supposed to train on Saturday afternoon, but the staff are now checking what’s missing and what they still have.
Though this is a worry, England will try not to let it affect their focus as they get ready for their big opening game. The FA is working with local police to find the stolen items.
Football fans might remember that this isn’t the first time England faced theft during a World Cup. Back in 1966, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen while in England. Luckily, a dog named Pickles, out for a walk with his owner David Corbett in southeast London, found the trophy wrapped in an old newspaper. They took it to the police, and Pickles became a World Cup hero!