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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Patrick Hill

England team playing with cat mascot as they relax ahead of match against Iran

The Three Lions seem to be feline fine ahead of Monday's opening match against Iran.

England aces and Man City team-mates John Stones, 28, and Kyle Walker, 32, chilled out with a new cat pal while sitting around a table at the team hotel.

Arsenal ’s Bukayo Saka, 21, and Man Utd’s Luke Shaw, 27, made sure they took on plenty of fluid in the heat.

They were laughing and joking making each other blended fruit drinks.

And Man City star Jack Grealish, 27, and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, 19, have been enjoying massages at the hotel, which has two swimming pools and an outdoor cinema.

Meanwhile long-standing pals Declan Rice, of West Ham, and Chelsea ’s Mason Mount, both 23, honed their ball skills with a relaxing game of basketball.

Grealish spoke out about the warm ­welcome the squad received on their arrival at the team hotel, the five-star Souq Al Wakra Hotel Qatar By Tivoli – and a surprise encounter with a local.

He said: “I walked in and we had a lovely welcome. And then Mason was recording me and Mason’s gone ‘Oh, look’ and I’ve looked and there was a camel.

“Mase was creasing! Obviously he must have knew it was real. I didn’t have a scooby, I didn’t know it was.

“And then the geezer goes to me ‘Oh, do you wanna sit on the camel?’ And I was like ‘Go on then’.

“So I got on this camel, the camel like stood up. Oh my days, man, I was so high.

Kyle Walker and John Stones with their new friend Dave the cat (Kyle Walker / Instagram)

"I didn’t realise the camel was going to be that big and I was scared. But yeah, it was good actually. I’ve never actually been on a camel’s back before so it was a nice experience.”

England players were seen beating the heat by training in specially made vests at the Al Wakra sports club, where large outdoor air conditioning units have been placed pitchside.

Captain Harry Kane, 29, said: “The vests are vital during these training sessions. I made sure that we had some available.

“I know it’s just a couple of sleeves, but it makes a big difference when you’re ­working hard in that sun so the majority of the boys are wearing them.”

The Spurs striker joked: “You get an extra bit of tan. You don’t get a T-shirt tan, you get a vest tan so it’s not too bad.

“A few of the boys pull it off better than others, I’d say that. I’m not gonna name names, but there’s a few little arms out there. But its OK, it’s acceptable.”

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