Red alert in Florida! England's World Cup chef was given the boot – literally – when he tried to board a train with his trusty kitchen knives. The culinary kingpin had been heading from West Palm Beach to Orlando, where the Three Lions are gearing up for their final warm-up match against Costa Rica. But it seems even the most seasoned chefs can't escape the security spotlight in America.
As the chef went through the metal detector at the station, his professional knives set off the alarm – and the authorities swooped in to prevent him from carrying them on board. While Florida's got a relaxed attitude towards firearms and pocket knives, Brightline's strict no-weapon policy meant the chef was left high and dry. Luckily, though, he managed to sort out alternative travel arrangements – but it's another embarrassing moment for England's World Cup preparations.
This incident follows hot on the heels of an earlier kerfuffle in Kansas City, where a batch of team equipment went missing from their training base. The Swope Soccer Village facility was raided, with official balls and boots pilfered just as the team was about to arrive. Fortunately, most of the stolen gear's been recovered – but not before it caused a right old panic.
England are now settled into their accommodation at the Inn at Meadowbrook, where they're getting ready for their Group L opener against Panama on 17 June. With nutritional and operational setup being top of manager Gareth Southgate's to-do list, these logistical hiccups come at an inopportune time.