FIFA World Cup 2018: England Battle Rain In Training Session Ahead of Sweden Quarter-Final Clash

After the session, the team is scheduled to fly to Samara, where under brighter skies it is set to take on Sweden at the Cosmos Arena on Saturday.

Heavy rains could not deter players from a very determined England from bundling up and taking to the pitch Friday for one of their final training sessions ahead of a quarterfinal clash against Sweden.

Coach Gareth Southgate, whose team on Tuesday eliminated Colombia after a scrappy 1-1 draw that ended in a nail-biting penalties shootout, was in high spirits as he led the team through an energetic session ahead of Saturday’s match.

“Awful weather in Repino, but we’ve still got that Friday feeling,” the squad said on its official Twitter account, alongside an image of midfielder Jesse Lingard doing a handstand on a ball as other players frolicked around him.

Awful weather in Repino, but we’ve still got that #FridayFeeling… 😀#threelions pic.twitter.com/Z0hdqSHuNG

— England (@England) July 6, 2018

The only player that trained apart was striker Jamie Vardy, who suffered a groin strain in the Colombia match and is unlikely to take part in the fight against Sweden.

A light session for @vardy7 as he tries to get fit for tomorrow’s #WorldCup quarter-final. We’ll know more about his chances when Gareth Southgate speaks to the media upon arrival in Samara. #threelions pic.twitter.com/860Gb2P4yY

— England (@England) July 6, 2018

After the session, the team is scheduled to fly to Samara, where under brighter skies it is set to take on Sweden at the Cosmos Arena on Saturday.