Ed Sheeran hosts private concert for England stars after their Euro 2024 Round of 16 win over Slovakia
Singer Ed Sheeran hosted a private concert for the England national team after they qualified for the Euro 2024 quarter-finals by beating Slovakia 2-1 in extra time in the Round of 16 on Sunday (June 30) in Gelsenkirchen. The concert was held at the Three Lions' base camp at Blankenhain.
According to The Telegraph, England boss Gareth Southgate wanted to let the players refresh their minds before facing Switzerland in the quarter-final on Saturday (July 6) in Dusseldorf. He reportedly invited Sheeran to the camp for the private concert to shift the players' focus from football for an evening.
Ed Sheeran has been a loyal supporter of England for a while. The singer was in the stands to support the team at Euro 2020 when they lost to Italy on penalties in the final at the Wembley.
He was also present in Gelsenkirchen when England beat Slovakia in the Euro 2024 Round of 16 and was spotted celebrating with his companions when Jude Bellingham equalised with a stunning bicycle kick in stoppage time. Harry Kane then sealed victory for England in the first minute of extra time.
Telegraph has reported that Sheeran visited the England players after the win at the team's hotel aka Spa & Golf Resort, Weimarer Land, before performing for them on Monday (July 1).
Southgate reportedly also allows families and friends to visit the English players at their base camp after matches. The coach has always been open about the need to allow his players to refresh themselves during the tournament.
Gareth Southgate admits England need to improve following Euro 2024 win over Slovakia
While Southgate seems to be doing a lot to keep England players refreshed ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final with Switzerland, he didn't shy away from admitting that there's scope of improvement.
Speaking to Outlook after the Three Lions's win over Slovakia, Southgate said that group belief has strengthened but admitted that the team should do better than that.
"There's no question it will give the whole group belief. We know we should be better than we've been, but we've ended up with a lot of young players in important positions and trying to solve problems right the way through the four weeks of the camp.
"But the standout is the way the players are dealing with it. Their togetherness, their spirit." Southgate said.
The Three Lions coach also gave the examples of England's runs to the semifinals at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy and Euro 1996 at home. He reminded that the team had started slow in both tournaments but went far.
"Everybody now, 30 years on, looks back at (Euro) 96 in a different way to how it was at the time. We were bang average against Switzerland (in the opening game at Euro 96).
"We were the same against Scotland; Scotland missed a penalty at 1-0 (down). Spain should have beaten us in a 0-0 draw (in the quarter-finals). 1990 was similar, so you do go through these moments in tournaments." he said.
Southgate's men face a formidable challenge from Switzerland, who are coming off a 2-0 win over defending champions Italy in the Round of 16. The Swiss are looking to reach the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time.