England can't catch a break with the weather. Hours after a police investigation was opened into the theft of boots and balls from a team vehicle, Thomas Tuchel's squad had to contend with a tornado warning descending on Kansas City during their first training session in the Midwest.
They'd already seen their friendly against Costa Rica delayed by an hour due to a thunderstorm during the Florida camp. Now, on the first evening in Missouri, the skies darkened again — a tornado warning was issued for parts of the city, with severe storms expected in the early evening. The FIFA Fan Festival, a free public event for World Cup supporters, shut its doors at 5pm as a direct result. That's not a routine weather delay. That's the kind of disruption that rattles pre-tournament rhythm.
The kit theft investigation
The storm wasn't even the strangest part of the day. The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department confirmed they were investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in the city with items missing. Balls and boots — the bare essentials of a training session — gone before England had even set foot on the pitch at Swope Soccer Village.
Football Association sources have since said the majority of the equipment was recovered and that the incident won't affect the squad. That may well be true. But the optics of a World Cup side arriving in a new city to find their gear has been picked through? Not ideal preparation.
England had been given a warm reception when they touched down — hundreds of fans lined the road to the Inn at Meadowbrook hotel, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane signed autographs, and signs reading 'Good Luck England' dotted the route. The goodwill is clearly there.
What this means heading into the group stage
England open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, with Ghana and Panama to follow in Group L. The disruptions — weather-related and otherwise — are the kind of background noise that a well-organised camp should be able to absorb. But this is now a pattern. Florida brought thunderstorms and a delayed friendly. Kansas City brings a theft investigation and a tornado warning on day one.
Whether Tuchel's side can find any consistency in training before Wednesday will be the real question. England's odds going into the tournament rest heavily on how sharp they look against Croatia — a team they know well, and one they can't afford to take lightly after the 2018 World Cup semifinal. Any further disruption to preparation sharpens that concern considerably.
The investigation remains ongoing.
