Midfielder Michael Carrick speaks exclusively to FATV.

Click here to watch the full interview with Carrick.

In the build up to England’s opening Group C match, midfielder Michael Carrick has praised the facilities at their Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus base.

Situated in South Africa’s north west province, the campus boasts a wide range of pitches, tracks and medical facilities and Carrick believes they have all come together to aid England’s preparation’s for their World Cup opener against USA on Saturday.

“The hotel’s spot on, the food is as good as we could ask for and the training pitch is within walking distance,” Carrick told FATV. “It’s perfect for our preparations going into the first game.”

As well as the top class facilities, the remote setting of the camp has also allowed England to concentrate fully on the USA game and not get carried away with the World Cup fever that is sweeping across the nation.

“You speak to friends and family back home and you try and take [the hype] on board, but it’s so different. We’re here to do a job and hopefully we can pull it off.”

Aside from their World Cup preparations, Carrick says the players have also found the time to unwind away from the pitch and the Manchester United man revealed an affinity for the green baize.

“I’m unbeaten at snooker,” he beamed. “I think Stevie’s [Steven Gerrard] meant to be a good player but I haven’t come across him yet.”