The subject of whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union has cropped up around the dinner table at the England team hotel in Chantilly as the country readies itself for the referendum on 23 June.

The FA spoke with the national team’s players and coaching staff before the tournament, offering to arrange postal or proxy votes on their behalf in anticipation of the team emerging from Group B and into the knockout phase, which begins two days after the referendum. The governing body confirmed plenty took up the offer, with Ryan Bertrand confirming the issue has been a topic of conversation.

“We have a brief chat about it at the dinner table when we unwind,” said the Southampton full-back. “But I’m not going to declare [my voting intention] in public.”