Euro 2016: Roy Hodgson delivers speech to locals in French as England hold open training session at base in Chantilly
ROY HODGSON, the England manager, addressed those in attendance at the open training session today in French as The Three Lions won over locals in Chantilly.
England opened the doors of the Stade des Bourgognes to the public as they trained at their base for the first time, four days before their opening Euro 2016 contest against Russia on Saturday.
Highbrow Hodgson, fluent in over five languages including Japanese and Norwegian, spoke to the assembled crowd in their native tongue before the session in French, thanking them for their support.
Chantilly mayor Eric Woerth then gave the squad a good luck message before a group of around 30 children from the Anglophone Parents’ Association for the Region of Chantilly sang God Save The Queen.
The England squad then did some light drills in front of the audience at the stadium.
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Jamie Vardy, subject of much transfer speculation over whether he will leave champions Leicester to join Arsenal, warmed up in front of the crowd.
Sunsport reported today that Vardy has told Hodgson that he will decide on his future AFTER Euro 2016.
Arsenal activated Vardy’s £20million release clause in the hope they could complete a deal for the striker before he flew out for the Euros on Monday.
But Arsene Wenger, after talks with Vardy, was left stunned by the striker not immediately jumping at a move.
Elsewhere, Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand is a major doubt for the opener against Russia after missing the training session in Chantilly with a muscular injury. Instead, he worked with physio Gary Lewin away from the rest of the squad.
It means Tottenham ace Danny Rose is almost certain to start at left-back in Marseille on Saturday night.
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