England's World Cup squad took a break from training for a diving competition as they prepared for their quarter-final match against Norway. The lighthearted event saw players like Anthony Gordon, Elliot Anderson, and Dan Burn participating.
Djed Spence, who had played as a left wing-back in the recent win against Mexico, drew significant attention for entering the pool with his socks still on. Spence reportedly told onlookers he was "scared" before his jump, later receiving a score of five out of ten for his dive, describing it as only his second ever.
Defender Dan Burn, making his first World Cup appearance against Mexico, showed more enthusiasm with a backward somersault, earning a seven out of ten. He later improved his score to an eight on a subsequent dive. Burn also applauded Elliot Anderson, a midfielder, who achieved a score of eight for his pool entry.
Winger Anthony Gordon received a score of three for an initial attempt that was described as overcooked, but later earned an eight for a second dive. Anderson secured the highest score of nine for a double somersault, which Burn commended as "unreal."
The team shared a video of the diving competition on their social media channels, with fans reacting humorously to Spence's choice to keep his socks on. Comments on social media included remarks about the "wildness" of socks in a swimming pool and that wearing them on a diving board was "criminal."
Following their victory over Mexico, England returned to their base in Kansas City. Their next challenge is the quarter-final match against Norway in Miami. Should they advance, they are set to face the winner of the match between Argentina and Switzerland in the semi-finals.
