When the England players go to cast their postal votes you wonder will they be more or less inclined to stay in Europe after a couple of weeks in France.
On the one hand they have heard their future in the European Championships debated by their continental cousins after the behaviour of a small fraction of their supporters.
On the other they have enjoyed the hospitality of green, sophisticated and relaxed Chantilly – a place so classically French that even a Go-Pro wielding Russian hooligan might be inclined to put down the chair and instead get some footage of the charming chateaus or the undulating hippodrome, where the French Classic Prix du Jockey Club was held earlier this month.
When I grow up I might buy a chateau beside Chantilly Hippodrome #ENG #Euro2016 pic.twitter.com/rprXwKRwlz
— Mikey Stafford (@me_stafford) June 15, 2016
Ryan Bertrand admitted the Brexit vote has been a topic of conversation in the team’s opulent hotel, Auberge du Jeu de Paume, where the postman carrying their postal votes will have to pass a cordon of heavily-armed policemen.
After a few days at Euro 2016 you become accustomed to seeing these burly, stubbly, unsmiling officers of the law at all security points but, in Chantilly, these modern day Foreign Legion seem particularly incongruous.
As the England team bus travels from the training ground at Stade de Bourgognes to the hotel or out to the well-appointed media centre at Les Fontaines, the players will see charming boulangeries, brasseries and boutiques whizz by, many with little St George’s Crosses hanging outside as a sign of welcome.
England's team hotel and media centre are a 15-minute drive apart in Chantilly. Both are piles #ENG #Euro2016 pic.twitter.com/eTR5gPzge3
— Mikey Stafford (@me_stafford) June 15, 2016
Even the freezers in the supermarket are hung with tiny English bunting – on the off chance James Milner pops in for a bunch of cherries or bag of chips.
While their partners may enjoy the charms of this town north of Paris, it is unlikely the team will see too much of it. The England players, like all players at this tournament or any other major championship, are pretty far removed from the fan experience.
Adam Lallana, for instance, was unable to offer any view on the violence that erupted inside the Stade Velodrome on Saturday night as he was being drug-tested when the Russian fans charged their English counterparts.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart was the only player who reacted to the violence in Marseille – gesturing to the fans, and possibly his family, to stay safe.
The English FA confirmed on Tuesday that they have established a private website where the family and friends of players can access safety information. It didn’t stop Jamie Vardy’s wife allegedly being, “Teargassed for no reason, caged and treated like animals” before the 1-1 draw with Russia.
No doubt Rebekah Vardy will be looked after more closely in little Lens on Thursday when England take on Wales in their second Group B game.
Assurances will be made to Vardy that his new bride is safe because, if England need a goal from the Leicester striker they will want him focused on scrambling Ashley Williams’ brain like he did in the Liberty Stadium back in December, not worrying about the welfare of family and friends.
Ryan Bertrand appealing to #ENG fans to stay "safe and sensible" for the remainder of #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/psSJjPzq7Q
— Mikey Stafford (@me_stafford) June 14, 2016
At the Irish team hotel in Versailles, a games room has been installed by one of the FAI’s sponsors. No doubt the English squad have similar distractions to help them relax and take their minds off the job at hand.
On Monday, Harry Kane and others played golf on their day off, while others travelled into Paris for some sightseeing and shopping. In a mischievous moment you like to imagine Dele Alli, John Stones and Hart taking a wrong turn in Montmartre and wandering straight into the epicentre of the Irish madness in Clichy.
Incomparable obviously to the carnage in Marseille, the sight of thousands of fans merrily drinking, singing and dancing is still the sort of thing players are shielded from at tournaments – it seems most squads are billeted away in sublime seclusion.
Gone are the days of Italia ’90, when Irish fans could travel to the Vatican and meet their heroes as they headed for an audience with the Pope. From another era too are the legendary tales of Irish fans drinking with the players in Orlando four years later.
We went to #ENG's training base ahead of Thursday's clash with #WAL. Here's how we got on https://t.co/VyyfsVRLIt #Euro2016
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 14, 2016
A few fans in Chantilly on Tuesday gathered in a cafe beside the England hotel, awaiting the return of the team bus alongside a small gaggle of photographers. The police presence and railings would prevent them from getting anything more than a quick glimpse of the players as they headed back inside after training.
Once back inside their five-star lodgings they may discuss Britain’s vote on staying in the European Union, Roy Hodgson’s determination to have his striker take corner kicks or even Gareth Bale’s suggestions that they are devoid of passion.
It’s unlikely however they spend too long dwelling on the violence that flared up in Marseille or the fears of further flare-ups between Russian and English fans in Lille.
The number of television cameras at England’s media centre at Les Fontaines went from 11 to 18 as interest builds ahead of the Wales game, but you might as well ask the England players about the atrocity in Orlando as the scenes in Marseille, they are so far removed.
On Wednesday they will make the short trip from sleepy Chantilly to a little Lens crammed with England and Wales fans – you imagine they will be happy to get back to their leafy hideaway on Thursday – whatever transpires at the “Battle of Britain”.
They will be in no rush to make their Brexit from a very French oasis of calm.
