The boot camp has been replaced by the boogie camp.

James Milner has revealed the England players have been let out of Fabio Capello's strict regime and into Africa to lift their spirits before tomorrow's World Cup crunch with Germany.

Zulu dancers and a barbecue were the latest treat laid on for the players on Thursday night after their win over Slovenia as Capello appears to have taken the hint and adopted a more relaxed attitude.

England's players were offered a beer the night before the Slovenia game, given Thursday afternoon off to play golf, see their family or just chill.

And it appears that while John Terry got a rollicking from Capello for going public on dissent in the camp, there has definitely been a change in the mood as the players are a lot happier after their World Cup was given lift-off.

Aston Villa midfielder Milner went to the BBQ night and said: "It was good. It's nice to have a change and mix things up. We've been here a long time.

"It's a great setting but it was nice to be outside and the dancing was very entertaining as well. It was a good night."

Milner was one of England's best players against Slovenia and has certainly earned the right to keep his place against Germany.

That performance has lifted the whole squad and now the belief is returning after a dodgy start and Milner believes they can go from strength to strength.

Milner said: "I think beating Slovenia in the manner we did has had a great impact on us. We had a lot of confidence coming into the tournament. We qualified very well and comfortably, playing good football.

"In the first game we played all right in spells and created a lot of chances. We could've won the game and not doing so maybe knocked the stuffing out of us. Then we didn't perform in the second game.

"That meant it was all down to the third game and to put in a performance like we did, moving the ball around pretty well on a tricky pitch, against a good team, and to get that result was a big boost.

"Hopefully we can keep improving. It's better to start poorly and get better and better as you go on than the other way round. Hopefully that can be the case.

"We need to show we've learned from the mistakes we've made and move forward and improve as a team. Hopefully the performances and results will come."

Milner also hopes that the encouraging signs from his partnership with Glen Johnson down the right can be a major factor in England's progression in the tournament.

They formed a strong bond against Slovenia and Milner believes they can do the same against Germany which he says will be the biggest game of his life.

Milner said: "The more you play with a full back helps. You've got pairings all over the field, the centre-backs, the two in midfield and up front and another is the full-back and the winger.

"It's easier to play when you have somebody of Glen Johnson's quality behind you. He's a top player, fantastic going forward, talks to you all the time and overlaps and he is good defensively. He's a great player and to have him behind me means I know that he will be there for me.

" I think this will be the biggest game of my career. You are lucky to be playing in a World Cup for your country. Each game becomes the biggest one yet but now it's knock-out.

"The last game was a bit like knock-out but this is real knock-out football. England against Germany is a massive game, at whatever level it is, from under-16s to the full side. It's got a great history and great occasion about the match."

Milner was just ten when England played Germany in Euro 96 but the Yorkshireman still remembers the heartbreaking semi final at Wembley and is desperate to come away with revenge this time.

He added: "That was the first major tournament I remember with England being in it. I remember we were so unlucky to go out.

"The biggest memory of the game, that stands out for me, was Gazza stretching for the one that went through the six yard box in extra time. He was just a stud away from it.

"It was incredible to think just how close we actually were to going through to the final. Euro 96 was a fantastic tournament with a great atmosphere.

"It was another case of so near but so far. Hopefully we can put in a good performance at the weekend and get the right result."