It's high-stakes, high-octane fun in the England camp, where the cards – quite literally – are being shuffled. With the World Cup group stage hotting up, it's not just the tactics that are under scrutiny; team morale is also top of mind for Thomas Tuchel and his staff. And they've found an ace up their sleeve: SkyJo, a numbers-based card game that's got the squad hooked.
Introduced by midfielder Jude Bellingham, SkyJo has become the go-to downtime activity for England's stars, with Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers confessing that he and his teammates are 'addicted' to it. "Jude bought it, it's a bit of a different one," Rogers revealed to BBC Sport. "I've never seen it before, but we're loving it at the moment." A winning round with Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon, and Elliot Anderson was just the icing on the cake for this group of card sharks.
The strategy behind these off-pitch antics is clear: to keep the players' spirits high and their bonds strong. It's a deliberate effort to create a 'club atmosphere', one that extends far beyond the confines of the training pitch. England's staff have been busy adding personal touches to each player's room, including cherished family photos, while outings like a recent Sporting KC baseball game (attended by Tuchel, captain Harry Kane, Djed Spence, and Dan Burn) and a concert by country artist Ella Langley (enjoyed by Burn and Kane) are all about making the most of their extended stay in Kansas City.
But SkyJo is just one part of the team's games arsenal. 'Wolf', a game that bears an uncanny resemblance to the BBC show 'The Traitors', has been getting a workout, while 'Imposter' – another favourite among the squad – sees players trying to identify the single individual who hasn't received a secret word via an app. Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson is playing a key role in fostering this camaraderie, affectionately dubbed 'unc' by his younger teammates.
Rogers, currently vying with Bellingham for a starting spot, highlighted the importance of their close relationship – despite the on-field rivalry. "We're really close," he explained. "We spend pretty much all our free time together." With shared experiences like these, it's no wonder the players are performing at an optimal level. After all, in the world of high-stakes football, sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference.