Chantilly (France) (AFP) – England assistant coach Ray Lewington unwittingly lifted the lid on team preparations for Euro 2016 by being photographed carrying a notepad showing tactical information.
A photo published by British tabloid The Sun on Wednesday showed Lewington holding the notes as he returned to the team hotel following Tuesday’s open training session in Chantilly.
The notes, which seem to have formed the basis for a training exercise, show Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy operating as strikers, with captain Wayne Rooney listed among the central midfielders.
England manager Roy Hodgson is known to be debating whether to use Rooney as a striker or a midfielder, where he finished the season playing for Manchester United.
The diagram featured 12 players arranged into pairs of either central midfielders, wingers or strikers, with holding midfielder Eric Dier at the base, but no defenders or goalkeepers.
The gaffe did not go unnoticed by Chris Coleman, the manager of England’s future Group B opponents Wales.
He emerged for training on Wednesday holding notes showing a ‘Wales’ team that included the Brazil greats Pele and Socrates and Argentina legend Diego Maradona.
England open their Group B campaign against Russia in Marseille on Saturday before tackling Wales in Lens next week.
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