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England’s Euro 2024 stars have returned to training as they step up their preparations for the new season.
The Three Lions were so close to glory at the tournament in Germany this summer, before they heartbreakingly lost 2-1 to Spain in the final.
That game took place on Sunday, July 14, with all of England’s squad granted extra time off by their clubs to rest and recharge.
They joined up with the rest of their Gunners team-mates, many of whom had been on the club’s pre-season tour of the US.
Many of England’s Euro 2024 stars returned to training at the weekend before the new season
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were seen reporting for duty at Arsenal’s London Colney base
Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale, who was England’s No 2 in Germany, was also back in action
Rice, Saka and Ramsdale were seen greeting many of their team-mates as they returned
They were put through several fitness tests, before heading straight out onto the training pitch
Saka was one of England’s star men in Germany, as the winger started all of England’s seven games at the tournament, with the 22-year-old scoring a crucial equaliser against Switzerland in the quarter-final, before he slotted home his spot kick in the subsequent shoot-out.
Meanwhile, Rice was also back at Arsenal’s base after the midfielder was another crucial component of Gareth Southgate’s side.
Aaron Ramsdale similarly greeted his team-mates after some extra time away, although the former Bournemouth keeper was England’s No 2 throughout their time in Germany and didn’t spend a minute on the pitch.
Sunday’s return to training meant Saka, Rice and Ramsdale had been given three weeks off following their exploits this summer.
They looked delighted to be back as a video on Arsenal’s social media channels saw the trio warmly embracing and catching up with several of their colleagues, with Saka having a particularly wholesome hug with Mikel Arteta.
It was a similar story at Liverpool where Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold were among the international stars who had reported for duty after an extra break.
The Three Lions duo were seen catching up with the other tournament returnees, which included the Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo, along with Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, who reached the latter stages of the Copa America with Uruguay and Colombia respectively.
It was similar at Liverpool, where Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez reported for duty
Alexander-Arnold was back at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre ahead of the new campaign
Alexander-Arnold and Gomez were put through their paces via a variety of fitness tests
England No 1 Jordan Pickford was seen doing some gym work in a post from Everton
They were then put through their paces via a variety of fitness tests to ensure they returned to training in the best possible shape.
England No 1 goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was also seen doing some gym work as he returned to training with Everton.
Ivan Toney also returned to training at Brentford and the striker, whose future at the club is uncertain this summer, was greeted by a standing ovation from the Bees’ coaching staff and his team-mates.
All seven England players who returned will now increase their preparations for the new season, with the Gunners facing further pre-season friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon at the Emirates.
Elsewhere, Liverpool will take on both Sevilla and Las Palmas at Anfield ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Arsenal then kick off the Premier League with a home game against Wolves, while Liverpool will travel to newly-promoted Ipswich, with both teams playing on Saturday, August 17.
