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England players have arrived back in the UK a day after their World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak after their 2-1 loss to France.
The Three Lions landed back in the country today as they returned from Qatar after agonisingly falling short against the reigning champions.
The players returned today ahead of joining back up with their clubs when the season gets back underway after Christmas.
A plane carrying Gareth Southgate’s squad landed at Birmingham Airport this evening after it departed from Qatar earlier today.
Teenage sensation Jude Bellingham was seen giving the thumbs up to fans as he departed the airport afterwards, while Phil Foden was seen posing for a picture with a fan.
Manager Southgate also waved for supporters as he was driven away.
England’s Jude Bellingham gives his thumbs up as he leaves Birmingham Airport on Sunday night
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford walks down the stairs as he exits the plane at Birmingham Airport tonight
Phil Foden poses for a picture with a fan after arriving at Birmingham Airport on Sunday night
Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips looks down leaves the plane after it landed at Birmingham Airport tonight
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher looks back up the stairs into the plane after it lands at Birmingham Airport tonight
A plane carrying the England squad landed at Birmingham Airport on Sunday night, December 11
The players were seen walking off the plane earlier this evening as they return from another agonising World Cup loss
After their exertions in Qatar some players may join their families for a holiday, while others could go into training camps with their clubs before heading home.
Leaving Qatar this morning, Bellingham gave the final message to fans as he signed t-shirts before boarding a coach to the airport.
This morning Gareth Southgate was seen with his arm around Kieran Trippier as they walked out of the Souq Al-Wakra hotel, while other players carried their bags to their bus.
Southgate has said he needs time to reflect on last nights loss to determine whether he will continue as manager.
His contract runs until after Euro 2024.
England’s Gareth Southgate (left) and Kieran Trippier outside the Souq Al-Wakra hotel, Qatar
John Stones gives a thumbs up while looking serious as he heads home with the team
Jude Bellingham watches on as his teammates board a coach to the airport to go home
Jude Bellingham takes photos with fans outside the Souq Al-Wakra hotel, Qatar
Declan Rice gives a thumbs uo outside the Souq Al-Wakra hotel, Qatar
‘These tournaments take a lot out of you and I need time to reflect,’ he told the BBC.
‘We’ve done that after every tournament and that’s the right thing to do.’
Speaking before their flight out of the country and as they were leaving their Al Wakrah training base, Southgate said the players were ‘flat’.
‘We were so close,’ Southgate said on England’s YouTube channel.
‘The level of performance, I was so happy with. There’s the disappointment that we feel we could have gone on, and done more. And yet, I really have very few regrets about the whole thing. Emotionally, it’s a rollercoaster.’
‘They know they played well,’ he said, speaking about his players. ‘In sport, it feels so binary, winning and losing. But when you’re coaching a team, and working with a team, you have to take a different view to that.’
He hailed the progression of the group, and as individuals, including those who have remained on the fringes of the first-team.
‘We’ve now got some very young players with a lot of big match experience already,’ the 52-year-old said. ‘The core of the group can be together for a long while.’
Last night the teams went into half time tied at 1-1, but Les Bleus managed to claw their way in front when their all-time top scorer Olivier Giroud scrambled in front of Harry Maguire and guided an excellent ball from Griezmann in at the near post.
England’s Harry Kane looks dejected at the final whistle after his sides 2-1 loss to France in the World Cup quarter finals
England’s Harry Kane and manager Gareth Southgate look dejected after the match as England are eliminated from the World Cup
After last night’s loss the team are due to leave Doha today and are expected to arrive back in the UK this afternoon
England’s Jordan Henderson and Jude Bellingham look dejected after the match as England are eliminated from the World Cup
France’s lead looked like it was going to be short lived when substitute Mason Mount was bundled to the floor in the box and was awarded a penalty.
But Kane, having scored an assured spot kick minutes earlier, saw his second effort soar miles over the crossbar, sending the Three Lions crashing out of the World Cup at the quarter final stage.
Gareth Southgate’s men were heartbroken, the players listing helplessly around the pitch in utter dejection while the French contingent erupted into wild celebrations.
Southgate made a beeline for his captain Kane, who looked as though he could scarcely believe the result.
England’s captain had sunk to his knees at the final whistle and his teammates requested TV cameras to turn their focus elsewhere.
Jude Bellingham meanwhile collapsed to the turf in tears and was also consoled by his manager and Jordan Henderson.
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