England stars humbled by visit to Auschwitz

England’s pampered players luxuriated in a fairy-tale castle at the top of a German mountain during the World Cup of 2006 as WAGs sashayed below in the spa town of Baden Baden; but they still went home in despair.

In 2010 they were ushered away, with WAGs not welcome, to a remote but plush training camp in Rustenburg, South Africa, where even the bedrooms overlooked the football pitches; and they went home in disgrace. So has the English FA finally got it right in 2012? England’s experience in Poland and Ukraine this summer will be a world away from the isolation of previous tournaments judging from their first two days in the Polish stag-night capital of Krakow; where they have been greeted by huge crowds and no shortage of enthusiasm.

The decision to choose Krakow, not without controversy given England’s group games are all being played thousands of miles away in Ukraine, was taken long before Roy Hodgson replaced Fabio Capello — but it appears to be one the former West Brom, Fulham and Liverpool manager is completely at home with as he prepares his much-criticised team to face France in Group D on Monday.