England set to clock up the air miles at the World Cup

England may have been drawn in a favourable group for this summer’s World Cup but the fact Russia spans a greater land mass than any other country on the planet means plane journeys could put them in a daze.

From the team’s base in the Repino area of St Petersburg near the border with Finland, they will fly to Volgograd for their first match of Group G against Tunisia on 18 June.

A single trip that will see them travel further than Tunisia and fellow Group G opponents Panama will travel for the entire group stage.

England manager Gareth Southgate’s decision to set up camp in the northern town of Repino – made before the fixtures were made in December – looks questionable, with his side now facing a 6,542 km tour of Russia in the first round alone.

That’s 1,253 km further than the average round trip, and the 11th-longest that any team will face.

Meanwhile, with England and Belgium firmly expected to progress from Group G. Unfancied Panama and Tunisia may have a telling advantage to overcome the odds by travelling the third and fourth shortest distances to travel of all 32 nations competing in Russia.

The Three Lions are 16/1  in the latest World Cup betting odds to lift the trophy, and head into it off the back of a 2-1 victory against Nigeria at Wembley.

They play Costa Rica in their final warm-up friendly on Thursday night at Elland Road before jetting to Russia.

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