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By CRAIG HOPE, CHIEF FOOTBALL REPORTER and JACK GAUGHAN
Published: | Updated:
England were the victims of an audacious World Cup heist after the players match boots were stolen from a van before their first training session in Kansas City.
Daily Mail Sport can reveal that boots belonging to the teams biggest stars were pinched along with official tournament balls and key training equipment.
The theft took place while the load was en route from West Palm Beach in Florida to Englands Swope Soccer Village base in Missouri, where they will call home for the next three weeks at least.
Thomas Tuchels men are due to train here for the first time on Saturday afternoon, but staff are now scrambling to determine what has been taken and what is available to them.
Sources say only one football was left among the cargo that remained, while there are fears that the boots belonging to the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellinghamhave also gone.
It is understood an arrest has been made. The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department said: We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening. The investigation is ongoing.
England were targeted by an audacious heist plot while moving to their Kansas base
Players’ boots and training equipment was stolen in transit, Daily Mail Sport understands
In what is a devastating blow to preparations ahead of Wednesdays World Cup opener against Croatia, we understand security staff suspect that drivers they trusted to deliver the kit could be involved. The FA are now liaising with local police as desperate attempts are made to recover the stolen goods.
England staff had packed up all of their essential training gear to make the journey from the pre-camp in Florida to their official World Cup base. This included analysis equipment, Tuchels whiteboards and massage tables.
However, staff are now reeling from the robbery and face a race against time to recover or replace items central to their meticulous plans to deliver a first World Cup on foreign soil.
The FA did not comment when approached by Daily Mail Sport.
Which England star has 7 GCSEs? Who has lost half of his finger? Test your knowledge of Thomas Tuchel’s squad with our exclusive quiz HERE