sport news England's Nations League hotel boasts paintings by local artists but no ...

England's football stars will be able to put away their Xboxes and indulge in some of Portugal's contemporary artworks when they arrive at their hotel here on Wednesday night.

Gareth Southgate has encouraged his young team, who are hoping to win the UEFA Nations League, to take in paintings, music and even a spot of theatre to help them take their minds off the competition.

In Russia during last year's World Cup, Southgate's men spent much of their time at their Repino base playing video games against each other and with friends and family on the internet.

The plush Santa Luzia Art Hotel will be England's home for five days as they bid to win the UEFA Nations League

The plush Santa Luzia Art Hotel will be England's home for five days as they bid to win the UEFA Nations League

There is a piano and the players will be treated to private classical music in the lavish surroundings of their base

There is a piano and the players will be treated to private classical music in the lavish surroundings of their base

The unsightly bars resemble prison bars but are based on the centuries old Portuguese cereal barns

The unsightly bars resemble prison bars but are based on the centuries old Portuguese cereal barns

But during their five-night stay at the Santa Luzia Art Hotel, captain Harry Kane and his team will enjoy private classical music by a pianist, paintings by local artists and the joys of a 150-seater amphitheatre inside their base.

Earlier this Spring, Portugal's top flautist Rao Kyao performed inside the hotel for guests.

The team's chefs have already conferred with the hotel's kitchen to ensure the food is exactly what the players need as they prepare for their semi-final match against Holland on Thursday evening.

Their rooms will be the perfect temperatures, with air-conditioning set to 19C (66F), as requested by officials.

There is also a gym and spa which the team's masseurs will use to help the players prepare for their first match at the Afonso Henriques Stadium.

There is no specific video games room, however hotel sources said a PlayStation had been brought in in case the hotel's array of paintings and book fail to help occupy the players' spare time.

There is no designated games room for the players but a Playstation has been shipped out for Gareth Southgate's side

There is no designated games room for the players but a Playstation has been shipped out for Gareth Southgate's side

Rubble surrounds the exterior and there is plenty of grit on the road from a neighbour's building work

Rubble surrounds the exterior and there is plenty of grit on

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