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Coach lets England’s tactics slip

England assistant coach Ray Lewington unwittingly lifted the lid on team preparations for Euro 2016 by being photographed carrying a notepad showing tactical information.

Roy Hodgson and Ray Lewington
In this handout picture released by the Football Association (FA) England manager Roy Hodgson (L) and assistant Ray Lewington (R) depart with the England team for France for the UEFA Euro 2016 European football championships at Luton Airport in Luton, north of London, on June 6, 2016. England's opening match at the European Championship is against Russia on June 11. / AFP PHOTO / FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FA) / Michael Regan / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / FA / MICHAEL REGAN "
In this handout picture released by the Football Association (FA) England manager Roy Hodgson (L) and assistant Ray Lewington (R) depart with the England team for France for the UEFA Euro 2016 European football championships at Luton Airport in Luton, north of London, on June 6, 2016. England's opening match at the European Championship is against Russia on June 11. / AFP PHOTO / FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FA) / Michael Regan / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / FA / MICHAEL REGAN "
In this handout picture released by the Football Association (FA) England manager Roy Hodgson (L) and assistant Ray Lewington (R) depart with the England team for France for the UEFA Euro 2016 European football championships at Luton Airport in Luton, north of London, on June 6, 2016.England’s opening match at the European Championship is against Russia on June 11. / AFP PHOTO / FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FA) / Michael Regan /

England assistant coach Ray Lewington unwittingly lifted the lid on team preparations for Euro 2016 by being photographed carrying a notepad showing tactical information.

A photo published by British tabloid The Sun on Wednesday showed Lewington holding the notes as he returned to the team hotel following Tuesday’s open training session in Chantilly.

The notes, which seem to have formed the basis for a training exercise, show Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy operating as strikers, with captain Wayne Rooney listed among the central midfielders.

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England manager Roy Hodgson is known to be debating whether to use Rooney as a striker or a midfielder, where he finished the season playing for Manchester United.

The diagram featured 12 players arranged into pairs of either central midfielders, wingers and strikers, with holding midfielder Eric Dier at the base.

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England open their Group B campaign against Russia in Marseille on Saturday.

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