The Insider: 9 June

 

St. George’s Park has had something of a revamp in preparation for this basecamp but it was another new look that was the talk of day one.  Whispers of Phil Foden’s newly blond barnet were circulating across social media before confirmation came when the Manchester City forward checked in at SGP sporting the dazzling do. Cue comparisons to Three Lions legend Paul Gascoigne and a modified nickname of ‘the Stockport Gazza’. Although, when speaking to the media, he wouldn’t admit that it was a nostalgic nod to the EURO 96 star, which left some wondering - could Eminem be the real inspiration behind this switch in style? However, Foden was much more forthcoming with his real passion this summer – collecting Panini stickers!  

 

Having been one of the first to arrive and get to grips with basecamp, Bukayo Saka tried his luck at pulling a prank on some of his team-mates. As they exited their cars upon arrival, the Arsenal man tried his best to panic them into thinking they had forgotten their passports. Unfortunately for Saka, the likes of Jordan Henderson and Mason Mount weren’t going to be fooled, remembering they had left their passports with our Team Ops crew. 

 

 

England players famously took on members of the media in a daily three-dart challenge during the World Cup in Russia – and the competition is back for UEFA EURO 2020. After an aggregate 9-2 trouncing to the players in 2018, the media will be out to level the scores at the oche this year. So Gareth Southgate will be pleased to have begun his squad’s defence of that trophy with a 40 pts to 30 win against BeIN Sports’ Carrie Brown.  

 

 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the first guest on Lions’ Den connected by EE and not only did he chat to six lucky supporters on the EE Fan Wall, he showed off his impressive basketball skills. DCL took on the Lions’ Ten challenge at the end of the show, choosing the basketball task over the golf one, and showed why he’d done it, netting six out of ten shots – including the bonus money shot at the end – to win a signed shirt and ball for fan Lucy.