There has been no shortage of inspiration for England's players this week. There were stirring words from Roy Hodgson at Wembley on Friday, and something altogether more powerful on Thursday night.

Zigi Shipper is one of the two Holocaust survivors who addressed Hodgson's squad at their hotel in Hertfordshire and both he and Ben Helfgott were described by Steven Gerrard on Friday as 'two remarkable people'.

Bend it like Rooney: Wayne watched by team-mates (l-r) Henderson, Jones, Walcott and Gerrard

'They lift you,' said England's captain. 'The whole lesson was very inspirational. All the lads were very focused and concentrated, which I have to say is unusual for a group of footballers.

Zigi offered a chilling insight into what England's players can expect when they visit Auschwitz next week.

'I told them about babies being shot, about babies being put in gas chambers,' he said.

'The players really listened. You could have heard a pin drop. It was very powerful. I told the players, "You are role models, people listen to you, you must spread the message about the Holocaust". Some people don't know about the Holocaust.

'The players gave me a shirt with my name and the No 1 on the back. Theo (Walcott) gave me a hug. I said to Theo, "I'm so sorry for your mum and dad that they are not able to go to Poland and Ukraine to see you play". Racism is terrible.'

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