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Several pairs of match boots belonging to England players were stolen from a team vehicle in Kansas City, Missouri, fewer than six days before their World Cup opener against Croatia.
"We are looking into a potential theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing tonight," a police statement confirmed.
According to the Daily Mail, the stolen equipment — which included tournament balls and various training gear — was being transported from Florida to Missouri as the Three Lions established their base ahead of the World Cup, with the vehicle carrying the items targeted while it waited to be unloaded at its final destination.
Player boots were among the most critical items taken during the incident. The Athletic reports that most of the stolen items have since been retrieved.
ESPN reports that two suspects have been apprehended. "The investigation remains ongoing," stated the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.
England Avoids Massive Complication
The England squad is scheduled to hold an open training session at Swope Soccer Village on Saturday, though whether this incident will affect those plans remains unclear.
Thomas Tuchel's side now have five days to prepare for their opening match against Croatia on June 17. Fortunately, it appears the squad's key players will have all the necessary equipment available, ensuring their preparations are not significantly disrupted.
Many top-level players use custom-made boots, with some even molded specifically to the shape of their feet for an ideal fit. Losing equipment of that caliber just days before a World Cup opener would undoubtedly have a considerable impact.
Likewise, many players rely on footwear tailored to the specific turf conditions of each stadium, designed to maximize every possible advantage at this summer's tournament.
Once team officials have assessed the recovered items, they will be handed over to Tuchel and his coaching staff for use in drills and training sessions. Whether any preparations will ultimately be affected by the theft still remains to be seen.
England officials will work hard to keep this matter away from the players, eager to allow them to concentrate entirely on their performances on the pitch.
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Following Wednesday's opener against Croatia, FIFA's fourth-ranked side will have six days to get ready for a clash against Ghana, before wrapping up the group stage against Panama on June 27.