England's EURO 2024 'Traitors'

As the nation becomes increasingly gripped by the BBC’s third series of ‘Traitors’ this month, it brings back memories of last summer for many of the England men's senior squad and backroom team at UEFA EURO 2024.

The Three Lions spent a total of seven weeks together, including their preparation camps at Rockcliffe and St. George’s Park, before they settled into their base in Germany at the Weimarer Land Spa and Golf resort in Blankenhain.

Was Marc Guehi a faithful, or a traitor?#BBCFootball @CPFC pic.twitter.com/LkK8RL09ZD

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 24, 2025

Following the popularity of the game ‘Wolf’ which had been played among the England squad at the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a game of Traitors was organised for the duration of the group’s time in Germany.

The brainchild of communications manager Andy Walker, the England edition of ‘Traitors’ saw 36 members of the squad and backroom team involved and began a few days after their opening fixture in Germany right through to the end of the tournament.

 

And just like the original show, there were eight ‘traitors’ selected at random as the game began, with a round-table showdown then taking place every night, apart from days before matchdays and the matchdays themselves.

With a special firepit area at the team hotel, those daily debates about who was a 'Traitor' proved to be every bit as entertaining and emotional as the show itself given the competitive nature of all the participants.

As more participants were banished at the firepit, those who were further culled by the Traitors were told when a letter was pushed under their hotel room door later that night, with their fate printed and written in a style similar to the popular game show.

Eventually, after weeks of eliminations and ‘murders’ there were ten finalists remaining, which led to a tense showdown of traitors and faithfuls pitted against each other around the firepit.

The finale was made even more special when they received a video message from Claudia Winkleman, host of the UK’s own ‘Traitors’ show.

And as for the winners, it was the Traitors who came through, with Marc Guéhi remaining the last participant standing having seen off the last two faithfuls in Kieran Trippier and chef Dave Pyle.

"I wasn't a traitor from the beginning which I think helped," said Guéhi. "I was recruited late on in the game. I think what makes a good traitor is someone who is themself. For me, I'm pretty unassuming and I think people don't expect me to be a traitor because I think I'm quite trustworthy. I just tried to get people on side so that wasn't too difficult. When they find out you're a traitor, it makes it even better."

You can watch the final episodes of the current series of Traitors via the BBC from Wednesday - Friday until 24 January 2025.