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England's World Cup adventure begins - Southgate's Lions are on their way to Russia

Mark Lawford
England skipper Harry Kane boards the plane to Russia PIC: <a href="https://twitter.com/England" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:@England;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">@England</a>
England skipper Harry Kane boards the plane to Russia PIC: @England

England are off to the World Cup. Literally.

Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad jetted to Russia on Tuesday afternoon as they embark to win the Jules Rimet Trophy for the first time since 1966.

Their plane took off from Birmingham Airport en route to St Petersburg as they look ahead to their opening Group G match against Tunisia on June 18 in Volgograd.

England players posted pictures of themselves on board on the official England Twitter page.

The England players convene for a giant selfie PIC: <a href="https://twitter.com/England" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:@England;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">@England</a>
The England players convene for a giant selfie PIC: @England

Southgate said: ‘We’re pleased with how preparation has gone up until now. Everybody is looking forward to getting to the first game.’

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The Three Lions will be staying in a secluded hotel in the village of Reprino.

Southgate has booked the ForRestMix club – which is 19 miles outside of St Petersburg.

Suited and booted: The England 23-man World Cup squad
Suited and booted: The England 23-man World Cup squad
Next stop Russia: The England plane takes to the sky
Next stop Russia: The England plane takes to the sky
Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling get ready for takeoff PIC: <a href="https://twitter.com/England" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:@England;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">@England</a>
Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling get ready for takeoff PIC: @England

The luxury complex boasts 107 spacious guest rooms which have been decorated Scandinavian style.

It boasts a beauty studio, a swimming pool, power and cardio equipment, halls for martial arts, aerobic classes and yoga classes.

A standard room in the hotel costs 8100 roubles – £95 per night.

England will train at the nearby Spartak Zelenogorsk Stadium.