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As England try to fix their game on the field, the games they play off the field are playing a vital role in team bonding.
While the focus of the World Cup group stage was on Croatia, Ghana and Panama, the players’ downtime was spent on Wolf, Scyzo and Imposter.
England’s players are joining their free-time games to strengthen the team’s bond – which could be vital if they go far in this tournament.
The squad is two weeks into their World Cup basecamp in Kansas City. They could be there for another three weeks if they reach the final – which is why it’s so important to keep themselves away from the training pitch.
In previous tournaments, players played Wolf, a game similar to the BBC show The Traitors.
As they played it in the build-up to the Euro 2024 final against Spain, the team received a message from the treacherous presenter Claudia Winklemann.
Wolff is still on England’s games menu during this World Cup – but Scyzo and Imposter are the new additions to keep the players entertained when they’re not on the training ground under the watchful eye of Thomas Tuchel and his staff.
Morgan Rodgers told BBC Sport that players have taken to Skyzo – a numbers-based card game with a focus on low scoring – after Judd Bellingham was brought into camp.
“Yesterday a few of us rode our bikes to a coffee shop, played cards,” Rogers said.
“Judd bought it, it’s a little different. I’ve never seen it before, but we’re addicted right now.”
The Aston Villa forward was happy to talk about the game he played alongside Rodgers Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon and Elliott Anderson – not least because he won.
In the game, players collect and exchange cards until no one goes over 100 points – at which point the player with the lowest score wins.
It’s all part of an effort to ensure players are in the best frame of mind to tackle the serious business of chasing World Cup success.
England staff put some personal touches in the players’ rooms – including photos of family members – as well as ensuring the squad was able to make the most of their non-football time in the US.
For example, Tuchel, along with captain Harry Kane, DJ Spence and defender Burn, visited Sporting KC, a baseball team whose ground is near their base camp.
Bern and Ken, meanwhile, also went to see country artist Ella Langley in concert
Teuchel emphasized creating a club atmosphere when he joined the Three Lions – and Brentford midfielder Henderson added some additional insight into how the squad bonded by playing games on the way to training.
He said they were engaging in a game called Imposter, where everyone except one player is sent a secret word through an app. The task then is to work out the other players who is in the dark.
Henderson has been instrumental in building morale in the squad – Rodgers said he and former Liverpool midfielder Bellingham have formed a tight-knit group.
“He’s been looking after us while me and Judd have been sparring with each other,” Rogers said.
“We call him chacha (uncle) at the moment, which he is not happy about at all.”
Rodgers has been vying for Bellingham’s starting number 10 spot for England so far at the World Cup.
The pair have known each other since childhood, both growing up in the West Midlands.
“It wasn’t a rivalry if I’m honest,” Rodgers said when asked what it was like fighting for a place in the team with his friend.
“Yeah, we’re really close. We spend almost all the time together, in free time and stuff.
“And that’s one of those things. I know we play the same position. I think we can actually play with each other.
“So I don’t think it’s me versus him. I think yes, we play the same position, but I thought he could play different positions, so could I.
“And if and when needed, I think we can do it to the best of our ability. So we’ll see how the tournament continues to progress and develop.”
