Some things in football you can prepare for.
However, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake, the strongest in the region in 150 years, is not one of those things.
And yet that’s what Thomas Tuchel’s England squad woke up to on Monday morning.
England’s World Cup preparations disrupted by 6.1 magnitude earthquake
According to the London Evening Standard, an earthquake struck while England were based in West Palm Beach, Florida, with the tremors originating off the west coast of Cuba and being felt across large parts of the Sunshine State, including Orlando and Miami.
Buildings shook.
People were asked to evacuate certain structures.
Videos shared on social media showed houses visibly moving as the quake hit.
Florida firefighters subsequently confirmed there was no cause for alarm, and the US National Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed there was no danger of a tsunami.
But for a World Cup squad already navigating one of the most complicated pre-tournament build-ups in recent England history, this was the last thing anyone needed.
The timing sits just 24 hours before England’s final warm-up match, before the squad relocates to their main tournament base in Kansas City.
Their World Cup campaign begins against Croatia on June 17 in Arlington, Texas.
England have been in Florida for just over a week.
Their opening warm-up was encouraging in result if not entirely in performance, with Harry Kane scoring the only goal.
Tuchel spoke afterwards about his displeasure with his players’ “freestyle” approach in the first half before the side found better shape after the break.
The earthquake caused no reported injuries to England personnel.
But the sequence of events surrounding this World Cup is becoming genuinely extraordinary.
Journalist visa denials, and Iraq’s star striker detained at the border for seven hours.
Nine people shot just four miles from England’s Kansas City base.
All before the tournament has even officially started.
England’s opening game against Croatia is six days away.
Everything else, from earthquakes to shootings to geological history, is background noise.
Croatia await.
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