No boots. No balls. No bibs. What would Roy Keane say? This threatened to be England’s very own Saipan. Or, rather, ‘Sly Van’.For it was in transit from West Palm Beach in Florida to England’s World Cup base in Missouri that the team’s essential training equipment was stolen, as exclusively revealed by Daily Mail Sport.FA staff suspected it was an inside job involving drivers trusted by a third-party haulage firm to transport the goods 1,400 miles across four states. Frantic calls were made to police on Friday afternoon and up to half a dozen Kansas City Police Department cars were deployed as an investigation into the crime was opened. Arrests were later made.We can now reveal the full extent of the devastation that was felt when distressed logistics staff realised they had been the victims of a brazen plot.Gone, sources say, was ‘just about everything’ from one van. Most troublingly, the World Cup match boots to be worn by the players were part of the loot. Some of those boots are specially embroidered with personal mementos, and many are custom designed to best suit the player, including fitted orthotics to aid comfort and performance. England have seen a large number of their training essentials and football boots pinched upon their return to Kansas City Players' boots and training equipment was stolen in transit, Daily Mail Sport understandsHarry Kane is due to wear a brand new Skechers boot at the tournament, while Jude Bellingham has his signature and a silhouette of himself on the heel of his Adidas Predators. The value of these tailored items would be worth thousands of pounds to the thieves.It was said to be at England’s Swope Soccer Village base in Kansas City, just 24 hours before the squad were due to train there for the first time, that the robbery became apparent. Staff were meant to arrive to find all of their cargo waiting, to then be set up inside the training facility that will be home to Thomas Tuchel and his stars over the next month.Instead, left scattered outside were the items that remained. Panicked phone calls soon ensued as news was relayed to England’s senior party, who were still in Florida. The bandits had even attempted to take the players’ table-tennis table, but it was smashed in the process. Witnesses have described the sorry sight of the table, so popular with the players, lying broken in the road. The pastime is one of several central to squad morale away from the pitch.What did survive the act of audacious larceny was a dartboard, but the fate of the darts is unknown. Some Lego was also spared, as well as Tuchel’s whiteboard, which he and coaching staff will use to relay the tactics they hope can take England to the final in New Jersey on July 19.But official tournament balls to be used in training, and key to getting used to its flight and bounce, were taken. Maybe it was a deliberate act of mercy - or a merciless joke - but the perpetrators left behind just one Adidas Trionda at the roadside. At least Tuchel and his players don’t have to revert to the shadow play, minus a ball, that we saw in Mike Bassett: England Manager, when the team’s balls were left in the boot of the kitman's car.However, a lot of the memes that soon circulated in light of our exclusive story billed Mike Bassett, played by Ricky Tomlinson, and his assistant, played by Bradley Walsh, as Tuchel and his right-hand man Anthony Barry. Other social-media posts mocked up the driver of the van as a kilt-wearing Scotsman.But in a fresh twist, we understand that the team’s fluffy mascot Leo the Lion was left behind. As one source quipped: ‘He is a key witness.’ At some previous tournaments, the worst trainer of the day has been made to carry Leo on their back around camp.Police are thought to have recovered some of the stolen goods, but exactly what and how much remains unclear. England were due to train in front of locals and media at 5pm (Central American Time) on Saturday. Sources have also suggested that contingency plans are in place for kit and the like going missing during tournaments, and most countries will have containers in separate locations with everything the team needs in the event of such a scenario.FIFA are thought to have distanced themselves from the incident, given England do not come under tournament arrangements until arriving at their official base. The company involved in the relocation of the equipment was organised by the FA.The security breach is a major concern for England’s logistics team - and raises serious questions of how they transport items between venues during the tournament. They may put their own man on all vehicles that are used as part of the operation.England’s first group match against Croatia is on Wednesday, 500 miles south of Kansas City in Dallas. Forget ‘Who shot J.R?’, what will JB be shooting with come the opener?Which England star has 7 GCSEs? Who has lost half of his finger? Test your knowledge of Thomas Tuchel's squad with our exclusive quiz HERE.