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      in Soccer

      How Ronaldo’s girlfriend Georgina Rodríguez is different to other WAGS – £2m jewellery to outburst over Portugal snub

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      FOR years, the likes of Victoria Beckham and Coleen Rooney have ruled the roost as queens of the WAGs.But during the Qatar World Cup, it has been Georgina Rodriguez, the girlfriend of Portugal ace Cristiano Ronaldo, who is making a claim for the throne.
      Georgina Rodriguez has stood out amongst the Qatar World Cup WAGsCredit: Instagram / @georginagio
      While the Three Lions’ wives and girlfriends are keeping a low profile, the stunning model, 28, has set herself apart with Kim Kardashian-esque photoshoots, eye-wateringly expensive jewellery and savage outbursts over the management of her partner, 37.
      Georgina and her man have been dating since 2017 after first meeting at the Gucci shop where she worked.
      She is now the most-followed WAG on Instagram, not surprising considering Ronaldo has more fans on the platform than anyone else in the world.
      Here, we take a look at how Georgina has carved out a different path to the other World Cup WAGs – and established herself as the one to beat.
      READ MORE ON WAGS
      Dripping in bling
      Georgina made sure to turn heads when she went to cheer on Portugal on TuesdayCredit: Instagram/@georginagio
      The model’s jewellery was worth nearly £2millionCredit: Instagram/@georginagio
      While many WAGs show up in T-shirts and trainers to cheer on their other halves at the World Cup, Georgina has other ideas.
      Dressed to the nines, she arrived at Portugal’s clash with Switzerland on Tuesday wearing a bunch of jewellery that was reportedly worth nearly £2million.
      She looked incredible in a figure-clinching black midi dress and green coat paired with metallic silver pumps.
      Her lavish jewellery list was topped by a £600,000 diamond engagement ring from Cristiano Ronaldo.
      Most read in Football
      She was also decked in a £450,000 necklace and bracelet set and a 10ct ring on her other finger thought to be worth a whopping £300,000.
      In addition, the brunette beauty wore a 40mm Rolex GMT 18ct gold watch set with diamonds that retails for £400,000.
      But that’s not all – Georgina added a £50,000 diamond band to her look and clutched a £7,090 Chanel bag in grained calfskin.
      She also wore diamond-encrusted earrings, which is likely to have pushed her jewellery estimate well over the £2million mark.
      Standing by her man
      She wasn’t afraid to speak out and slam Portugal’s coach this weekCredit: SOCIAL MEDIA
      Ronaldo was not too happy about being benched for Portugal’s clash with SwitzerlandCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Georgina railed against the decision on Instagram
      Georgina posted a number of pictures from her time at the stadium on that same day, where she spoke out against Portugal’s coach, Fernando Santos.
      Much to her frustration, the football boss benched her man for the majority of the match.
      The snub came after the former Manchester United player appeared to throw a tantrum when he was substituted off in Portugal’s loss against South Korea.
      When asked about Ronaldo’s sulk, Santos said: “If I see the images, yes, I didn’t like it, not at all. I really didn’t like it.”
      Writing on her Instagram post, Georgina said: “Congratulations Portugal. While the 11 players sang the anthem all goals placed on you. 
      “What a shame he didn’t get to enjoy the best player in the world for the 90 minutes. The fans haven’t stopped claiming you and screaming your name. 
      “I hope God and your dear friend Fernando hold hands and make us vibrate one more night.”
      Her post marked one of the very few times any WAG has dared to openly criticise the decision of their partner’s coach.
      Sultry desert photoshoots
      Georgina has been making the most of her time in QatarCredit: Instagram @georginagio
      She showed off her sophisticated style with a series of snapsCredit: Instagram @georginagio
      Georgina has been making the most of her time in Qatar and even did an impromptu Kim Kardashian-style photoshoot during a desert walk.
      Ahead of Portugal’s match with Switzerland, she wore a tight army green dress with a patterned Louis Vuitton scarf tied around it.
      This time, she settled for a more understated look with her long locks slicked back in a braided ponytail.
      She also opted for medium-sized hoop earrings, and a cross necklace.
      In other snaps, she’s seen wearing a long Adidas tracksuit coat over her dress teamed with a pair of chic sunglasses.
      Her sister, Ivana also posted a picture of the pair with the caption: “Desert of Qatar. Super experience. What a great time we had!!!”
      Building a brand
      She was greeted with a huge cake of Ronaldo and the family upon arrival at her Qatar hotelCredit: Instagram @georginagio
      Upon arrival in Qatar, Georgina was greeted with a giant Cristiano Ronaldo cake.
      A staunch supporter of her partner, she was naturally seen in a CR7 tracksuit bottom and has been instrumental to the couple’s brand building.
      With a following of 40.3million, Georgina is the most followed WAG on Instagram.
      Her closest competition is Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, who is the fiancée of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at 16.5million.
      Since meeting Ronaldo while working in a Gucci shop, she has become a businesswoman, model, and brand ambassador in her own right.
      Earlier this year, she scored big when she landed her own reality show, I Am Georgina on Netflix.
      The six-part show told the Spanish model’s story in her own words and featured appearances by Ronaldo, who gushed about his love for her.
      On the show, viewers got a peak into her lavish lifestyle, which included watching the Monaco Grand Prix from her personal yacht to walking down the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival.
      They have three children together and managed to navigate the storm of losing an unborn baby earlier this year.
      Georgina is now said to be making plans to wed Ronaldo, who is reportedly worth over £300million.
      In a 2019 interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo said it would be his mother’s dream to see him wed Georgina.
      He said: “We’ll be [married] one day, for sure,” he said.
      “It’s my mum’s dream as well. So, one day. Why not? It’s great. She’s my friend. We have conversations. I open the heart for her and she opens the heart for me.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Georgina and Ronaldo with the family
      Ronaldo says his mother would like to see him and Georgina married one dayCredit: Getty
      She now enjoys lavish holidays and the finer things in lifeCredit: Instagram
      Georgina starred in her own Netflix reality showCredit: IMDB More

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      How England’s Qatar World Cup squad are relaxing before Wales clash – The Crown binges to team’s worst basketball player

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      TENSIONS are high ahead of the World Cup’s first home nations clash between England and Wales. The historic match, dubbed the ‘Battle of Britain’, could eliminate the Dragons from the tournament after they qualified for the first time in 64 years.
      England’s John Stones, Eric Dier and Jude Bellingham were snapped topless on a beach ahead of the Wales gameCredit: Channel 5 News
      John Stones and Bellingham battle it out during a game of water poloCredit: Twitter / England
      The Three Lions are under the cosh too after a dull 0-0 draw against the USA, but have been finding plenty of ways to unwind ahead of tonight’s showdown.
      Yesterday, team members including John Stones, Eric Dier and Jude Bellingham were snapped soaking up the sun at the beach, while others lapped up luxury in the palm-tree-laden Souq Al-Wakra Hotel.
      But it’s not the only way England’s World Cup squad have let their hair down – here we reveal what they’ve been up to… when they’re not trying to bring it home.
      Posh grub and massages
      The Three Lions are staying in an opulent five-star resort, just 10 miles south of Doha and it’s been kitted out to tailor to their needs.
      MORE ON ENGLAND
      Jack Grealish shared behind-the-scenes snaps showing off a lush swimming pool at night with illuminated palm trees, comfy recliners and a couple of floating seats in the water.
      Another showed forward Bukayo Saka tucking into a delicious-looking meal with tomato ketchup and a side.
      The Arsenal midfielder has also been snapped preparing and drinking a blended fruit smoothie, which the England team have used to keep cool in Qatar.
      After lengthy training sessions in the plus 40-degree heat, the players also had massages – one snap showed Grealish and Jude Bellingham receiving one.
      Most read in Sport
      Jack Grealish and Bellingham receiving a massage at the luxury hotelCredit: Instagram
      Bukayo Saka tucking into a lush-looking evening mealCredit: Instagram
      Grealish revealed the stunning views around their hotel pool at nightCredit: Instagram
      Harry Maguire revealed the famous inflatable unicorn was back in England’s training campCredit: Instagram
      And of course, any England campaign wouldn’t be complete without the now-famous inflatable unicorn, which has accompanied them since the 2018 Russia World Cup.
      Harry Maguire shared a snap of the rainbow-haired blow-up, which he captioned: “Nice to meet you again.”
      The unicorn was sat on a small diving board alongside an inflatable crocodile by an impressive-looking indoor pool with a water polo net.
      Darts, video games and basketball 
      Between training sessions, the England team have found fun ways to compete without kicking a ball.
      John Stones was captured in action as he tried to throw a ball over another player during a game of water polo. 
      The team also have a pool table and game consoles which were hauled in especially to their hotel. 
      Former England star turned pundit Ian Wright revealed they had also been playing darts.
      The ITV star, who joined them for a game, said it kept them “upbeat” and in good spirits.
      In one darts challenge, Declan Rice, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount all scored 66, which was some dubbed a “good omen” conjuring up memories of the 1966 World Cup win. 
      The players regularly enjoy darts tournaments and in one challenge, three England stars scored 66 points – perhaps a good omen reflecting the 1966 World Cup winCredit: Getty
      Grealish was said to be the ‘worst’ basketball player in the England squadCredit: Instagram
      Another sporting pastime has been basketball, with Kalvin Phillips claiming he was “the best in camp” and “Jack [Grealish] is definitely the worst”.
      To kill time, Phillips also revealed the team had been playing a “wolf card game” – believed to be called Werewolf, a murder strategy game.
      In his World Cup diary, he wrote: “At first, it was a small group and now there’s probably a group of 12 or 13 of them involved.
      “It’s definitely one you can watch, as it’s quite funny and even if I’m not around there, when they get somebody out, you can hear them cheering by the pool.”
      Beach dips and stray cats
      Yesterday, a handful of the England team were seen walking down to the beach ahead of their clash with Wales.
      The gang included Maguire, John Stones, Jude Bellingham, Eric Dier, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale, Conor Coady, Calum Wilson and Kalvin Phillips.
      Later, Stones, Dier and Bellingham took off their tops while strolling on the beach and edged close to the water. 
      Before England’s first game, it was revealed they had befriended a local cat, who Stones named ‘Dave’, and another that was missing an eye, nicknamed ‘Paul’.
      A number of the Three Lions squad left their lush hotel for a walk around the local areaCredit: Channel 5 News
      Kyle Walker and John Stones befriend two street cats, who they named Dave and PaulCredit: Instagram
      TV shows and yoga
      Recently, Harry Kane and Dier recently revealed the essential items they bring ahead of a major tournament.
      Among the skipper’s choices were a leather diary, fluffy slippers to soothe his achy feet and facial cleanser.
      Describing the product, which he branded his “nighttime beauty essential”, Kane said: “You’ve got to keep yourself looking young nowadays! Well, that’s what the wife says.”
      Opening up on his TV downloads, he said: “I just finished House Of The Dragon, I’m still watching Formula 1: Drive To Survive.
      England players have been unwinding and loosening their muscles with yogaCredit: Getty
      The team practised their moves at their hotelCredit: Getty
      “There’s always something that pops up before a major tournament and I’ll just dive in… like the Euros was Game Of Thrones – for me that’s a fantastic series.”
      When Dier was asked what show he was into, he sheepishly confessed: “The Crown… the new season just came out, so I’m into The Crown. I love it.”
      Away from their viewing habits, the players have been practising yoga poses to unwind.
      Personal hotel touches
      During the World Cup, the players have rarely seen their families – some of whom are 6,700 miles away back in the UK.
      However, to help the Three Lions deal with being away from their nearest and dearest, the hotels have added a few personal items. 
      James Maddison told talkSPORT: “The set-up we got to the hotel it’s been absolutely brilliant. It is all down to the finer things, like the little touches.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I checked into my room and there are little framed pictures of my little boy and my family. It is just little things like that.”
      He explained that it made him feel instantly at home in the camp, which is a 30-minute drive to capital city Doha and close to their 12,000-seater training base, the home of Al Wakrah SC. More

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      Inside Brit WAGs’ Qatar World Cup jolly – £600 outfits to poolside cocktails and huge slide on £1bn ‘floating palace’

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      OH how the other halves live!They may not be able to spend time with their fellas, but the England and Wales WAGs are clearly living their best lives this World Cup.
      The Wales WAGs were out in full force to support their husbands and partnersCredit: Instagram
      Conor Coady’s wife Amie Coady is in Qatar with their three sonsCredit: Instagram
      Enviable snaps shared to their social media pages show it’s been non-stop sunbathing, eating and enjoying cocktails in Qatar between matches.
      Jack Grealish’s girlfriend Sasha Attwood and the rest of the British footballers’ partners touched down in Doha earlier this week ahead of England’s 6-2 win against Iran and Wales’ 1-1 draw with the US.
      While the men are all housed at the Al Wakra resort, the England WAGs are staying on a luxury £1billion cruise liner, dubbed a “floating palace”.
      It boasts six swimming pools, 30 bars and the tallest slide on a ship.
      More on World Cup
      Meanwhile their Welsh counterparts are staying at the luxurious Grand Hyatt Dubai.
      All the girls have been busy sharing photos and videos of themselves soaking up the 30 degree heat in bikinis.
      And they seem to be getting round the strict alcohol rules in Qatar, where it’s largely only served in hotel restaurants and bars with special licences.
      Thanks to the England WAGs’ cruise ship being “off-shore”, those on board can sip boozy cocktails to their heart’s content.
      Bukayo Saka’s girlfriend Tolami Benson looked stunning for an evening outCredit: Instagram
      Paige Milian strikes a pose in her roomCredit: Instagram
      Tolami and Raheem Sterling’s girlfriend Paige Milian enjoyed cocktails togetherCredit: Instagram
      Tolami also had some sushi for dinner at one of the cruise’s many restaurantsCredit: Instagram
      More on Wags
      And they’ve got 30 bars to choose from on the ship, as well as a micro-brewery and mixology classes in its Elixir gin bar.
      Paige Milian, 27, girlfriend of England’s Raheem Sterling, Tolami Benson, 22, who’s dating Bukayo Saka, and Raheem’s little sister Kima-Lee Sterling have clearly been making the most of it.

      The trio shared a video of cocktails they were drinking at one of the bars, where they were dressed to the nines.
      Tolami posted a snap of some sushi and dim sum at one of the many restaurants on-board, along with what looked like a white Chanel bag.
      She also shared a video of the inside of the cruise ship – which houses beauty salons, boutiques, dodgems, 14 ocean-view Jacuzzis and the longest dry-slide at sea, ominously called The Venom Drop.
      Swanky restaurants
      Aaron Ramsdale’s fiance Georgina Irwin wore a £640 Nadine Merabi suit for a night outCredit: Instagram
      She then had dinner at Novikov – a swanky restaurant originating in MayfairCredit: Instagram
      Some of the girls enjoyed an al fresco dinnerCredit: Instagram
      Aaron Ramsdale’s fiancee Georgina Irwin obviously fancied a little taste of home for dinner.
      She headed to the swanky Japanese-Chinese fusion eatery Novikov, which originated in London’s Mayfair – and had some delicious-looking tacos.
      Prices at Novikov go up to 420 Rial (£95.82) for just nine pieces of sashimi, while the cheapest item on the menu is apple juice for 25 Rial (£5.70).
      Georgina was dressed for the occasion, looking stunning in a black, sequined suit and trouser set with matching bralet – an outfit which would’ve set her back around £640.
      Paige also headed out for an outdoor dinner by the pool, wearing a stunning brown dress that showed off her amazing figure.
      In a video she shared of the formal dining table outside, there were lots of seats so she and the girls most likely got together for the meal.
      Fun with the kids
      Amie’s sons must be having a great time on the cruiseCredit: Instagram
      Amie took the boys out for an evening scoot in Doha tooCredit: Instagram
      Paige shared a snap of the ships’ massive slideCredit: Instagram
      Paige is in Qatar with her and Raheem’s children, Thiago, five, and Thai-Cruz, three, as well as his daughter from his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Melissa Clarke, Melody Rose, 10.
      And Amie Coady, 29, the wife of England’s Conor Coady, has brought along their sons Henry, seven, Louie, five, and three-year-old Freddie to support their dad.
      They’re all probably having a ball on the cruise ship with so much to do, including a range of clubs for children, a Sportplex zone offering basketball, bumper cars, and even a roller disco rink.
      Amie has also found time to enjoy an evening scoot with the kids, as she shared a video of them whizzing along the seafront, as well as a view from her room on the cruise showing off the stunning view – and the 26 degree heat.
      She posted a string of pictures from her room, which overlooks the sea, posing in a black and white bikini and matching sarong – costing £102 for the set from Grace Jacob – and some very glamorous Chanel sandals.
      Beach days
      Wales footballer Connor Roberts’ wife Georgina is at the Grand Hyatt Dubai hotelCredit: Instagram
      Nicole Hagan, who has been linked to Welsh player Neco Williams, posed in a bikiniCredit: Instagram
      The Welsh WAGs all posed together when they supported their men at their first game against USA.
      But it seems like many of them are doing their own thing when it comes to the non-match days.
      Georgina Roberts, the stunning wife of Welsh footballer Connor Roberts, is staying at the Grand Hyatt Dubai hotel – where rooms start at 950AED (£214) a night – with their eight-month-old daughter and her mum.
      She has shared loads of photos of the three generations enjoying a wholesome holiday together.
      In one snap Georgina looks very happy holding her daughter in the sea at the Dukes The Palm Hotel’s beach.
      And in another picture, she’s seen enjoying some cocktails by the pool with her mum.
      Meanwhile others have been enjoying the sun, sitting by the pool and beach, relaxing.

      Jodie Francis, the fiancee of Wales player Chris Mepham, showed off her toned abs in a gorgeous black one-shouldered bikini top with some loose, white trousers, as she sat on the beach.
      Nicole Hagan, who has been linked to Welsh player Neco Williams, also looked like she was enjoying the sun, in a glamorous photo wearing a lilac bikini.
      Chris Mepham’s fiancee Jodie Francis showed off her abs on the beachCredit: Instagram
      Jodie was sipping some delicious cocktails by the beachCredit: Instagram
      Georgina has taken her daughter to the beachCredit: Instagram
      She’s also there with her mum and they’ve been enjoying cocktails togetherCredit: Instagram More

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      I tracked down the Qatar World Cup’s most expensive beer – it’s only a bottle and it’s not exactly a premium brand

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      EVEN for wallet-busting Doha, my bar tab came as a sobering shock.Watching France thrash Australia at popular sports bar Shots I was charged a whopping 65 riyals – that’s around £15 – for a bottle of Becks.
      Sun man Oliver Harvey was stunned by the price of his bottle of BecksCredit: THE SUN/MAX MOLYNEux
      Two beers and a salad set our reporters back £44Credit: THE SUN/MAX MOLYNEux
      A Saudi Arabia supporter – celebrating his team’s World Cup win over Argentina – told me: “The prices are ludicrous. How are we supposed to party?”
      After a day in the Qatari sunshine my 275ml bottle of Becks  – just over half a pint – disappeared in a flash. 
      And that is approximately 20p per millilitre on beer.
      An apologetic barman told me: “We’ve run out of draught beer tonight so it’s bottles only. Draught will be back on tomorrow.”
      READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
      A draught pint of Budweiser in the bar costs 60 riyals (around £13.90).
      The wine list was equally lumpy. A glass of pino grigio would have set me back 70 riyals (around £16.15).
      My bill for the evening at the popular sports bar – inside the Hilton Doha Hotel with stunning views of Doha’s bay – was 190 riyals – around £44 – for two bottles of Becks and Greek salad.
      Fans have been searching for an affordable beer in Doha’s hotel bars with prices in the fan zone also eye-wateringly steep. 
      Most read in The Sun
      The fan zone at Al Bidda Park on the waterfront Corniche has room for 40,000 people – yet there was just one designated beer tent with 78 fridges packed with tins of Budweiser.
      A 500ml glass of the lager goes for 50 riyals – around  £11.50 – and you’re limited to four alcoholic drinks.
      A bog standard slice of pizza to soak it up is around £8.
      Alcohol isn’t served until after 6.30pm and you’re only allowed four measly 500ml cups of World Cup sponsor Budweiser’s fare.
      Only alcohol-free beer is on sale in stadium perimeters.
      According to the 2021 World Beer Index by Expensivity, Qatar has the most expensive beer prices in the world.
      Analysing prices in the capitals of 58 nations, Doha came out tops with a 330ml bottle of beer costing around £9.45.
      Bottles of beer cost £15 a pop at the pricey bar in Doha More

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      Inside unfinished £175-a-night Qatar fan village with sweltering 37C container cabins and builders are still at work

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      WORLD Cup fans are facing sweltering 37C container cabins with broken air conditioning units, dirty water and builders still working on the unfinished camps. Qatar has a popped up a number of temporary villages to help accommodate the more than one million fans expected to descend for the sporting extravaganza.
      Sun man Oliver Harvey stayed at one of the £175-a-night cabins near DohaCredit: Dan Charity
      Temperatures inside our cabin hit highs to 37C – and the air conditioner was brokenCredit: Dan Charity
      The tube connecting the air con unit to the outside wasn’t set up – leaving a gaping hole in the wallCredit: Dan Charity
      Parts of the fan village simply looked unfinishedCredit: Dan Charity
      Workmen were still on site even as fans moved in for the World CupCredit: Dan Charity
      But despite billions of pounds being ploughed into infrastructure – including an entirely new city – some of it appears to have been hastily knocked together on a tight budget.
      Sun man Oliver Harvey forked out £175 to spend the night at the Fan Village Cabins Free Zone just outside of Doha.
      The tiny container-style cabins house two people in a cramped bedroom with an en suite shower – and the metal structures are left baking beneath the blazing sun.
      “[It is] constructed on a site which resembled an unfinished car park,” said Oliver.
      READ MORE WORLD CUP
      Staying in cabin E11-15, the site is wedged between two busy roads and is around 30 minutes away from the luxurious hotel being enjoyed by England.
      After opening up his digs for the night, our reporter was met with a blazing wave of hot air as he stepped inside the “shipping container” cabin.
      He found the air conditioner was not even hooked up – with the tube connecting it to the outside world not even attached and a gaping hole left in the wall of his cabin.
      The container did have a desk-style fan attached to the wall – but it only offered light relief from the insufferable heat.
      Most read in Football
      Our man came prepared, and the sweating Oliver got out his thermometer to measure the staggering temperature.
      The mercury quickly climbed to nearly 38C.
      “It [was] really stifling,” said Oliver, “We are going to be ‘oven ready’ England fans after a night in here.”
      When he did manage to get the aircon working, it was incredibly noisy and would made it hard to sleep.
      And it only managed to drop the temperature down to 31C.
      Oliver went to test the shower and sink, only to find it was piping hot and the water appeared to be dirty.
      Finding he could not spend another “sweltering second” inside his cabin, Oliver headed out to explore the rest of the fan village.
      What he found was rows upon rows of hundreds of metal boxes arranged on a flat, barren piece of land which appeared to be little more than a disused car park.
      Beyond hunkering down between the rows of cabins, there was very little shade.
      And that made sitting on prearranged bean bags around the village’s big screen extremely unappealing as the sun beat down.
      Low-flying planes roared overhead in the blue skies in what was quite a strange and bleak World Cup experience.
      Worth the price for a baking hot room? Probably not, says our reporter Oliver HarveyCredit: Dan Charity
      The fan village looks more like an ‘unfinished car park’Credit: Dan Charity
      At least there was ice cream to help you cool offCredit: Dan Charity
      The water in our cabin’s bathroom ran dirty when we first got thereCredit: Dan Charity
      And the pepperoni pizza – with just four pieces of pepperoni – cost £15Credit: Dan Charity
      There are beanbags to watch the big screen – if you can endure the sweltering heat and baking sunCredit: Dan Charity
      Oliver managed to find some other fans, running into two men from Japan.
      They agreed their room was “tiny, hot and expensive”.
      “I don’t like it”, one said.
      And the two Japan fans admitted they had a staggering 16 NIGHTS at the camp to endure, questioning whether they would even be able to get to sleep.
      “Outrageous,” they laughed.
      Oliver also ran into two Mexican fans who, despite being in good spirits, agreed it was incredibly hot in their cabin.
      Continuing to explore, our man decided to settle down for a meal.
      He picked himself up a pepperoni pizza for £15.
      And despite the grub being quite small with just four pieces of pepperoni on it, Oliver admitted it was “not too bad”.
      After enjoying his lunch, he then found himself in a massive unfinished grey gravel expanse in the middle of the village.
      Workers were still setting up the giant marquee – which Oliver wasn’t sure it was exactly meant to be, maybe a dining area?

      Qatar has already faced questions over organisation of the World Cup – with reports weeks before the start that the nation simply was not ready.
      Confusion over the sale of beer, infrastructure problems and reports of crowd trouble at the fanzone have already surfaced.
      The tiny country is expected to welcome more than one million fans during the tournament – when the country only has a population of 2.9million.
      Billions have been spent to try and ready the nation for its first attempt at holding an event of this scale.
      Japanese fans at the box village, Naota Endo and Daisuke Kusaba, were also unimpressedCredit: Dan Charity
      Oliver also ran into Mexican fans at the villageCredit: Dan Charity
      Other fans agreed with him the rooms were incredibly hotCredit: Dan Charity More

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      I’m a sexpert – my bedroom tips for England heroes and their WAGs will help us win the World Cup

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      THE pressure of representing their country at the World Cup can take a huge toll on players. But a sex and relationship expert reckons she knows exactly how Gareth Southgate can revitalise his team after matches.
      Natalia believes players like Eric Dier should be able to let off some steam with fiancee Anna Modler after matches
      Natalia Kobylkina believes the England squad should be able to have sex after matches – but not the day beforeCredit: Supplied
      Sexologist Natalia Kobylkina is urging the England manager to let his players go into sex-tra time with their wives and girlfriends – but ban romps the day before a game.
      She tells The Sun: “If they win and perform well they should be rewarded by being able to perform equally well when they see their loved ones after the game.
      “That will also, hopefully, get them in the right frame of mind for the next fixture.”
      But while she firmly believes sex games are good for the squad, too much nookie could hamper their chances of bringing home the World Cup.
      READ MORE ON WAGS
      She explains: “It is very important for the guys to be ready for action when they get out onto the field.
      “You can’t expect that to happen if they have been putting all their energies into making love with their partner in the run-up to matches.”
      Natalia, 38, believes to get the best out of his team, Southgate must ban any performances in the bedroom 72 hours before each game and save the reward for when the game is over.
      She argues the players need to have heightened levels of testosterone and cortisone in their bodies to maximise their prowess on the pitch.
      Most read in Football
      Annie Kilner will be cheering on her man Kyle WalkerCredit: Instagram
      Sasha Atwood, who has been in an on-off relationship with Jack Grealish for years, will be supporting himCredit: Instagram @sasha__rebecca
      Natalia adds: “If Gareth Southgate follows my advice, England can go all the way to lift the trophy – and the wives and girlfriends will have fulfilled an important role in winning the World Cup.”
      No to ‘sex ban’
      Natalia, 38, says it’s not feasible to ask players not to have sex for more than a month throughout the tournament.
      She says: “They will start to get depressed and frustrated. Their heads will drop and they won’t be at their best. 
      “You wouldn’t impose a month-long sex ban for players during a normal season. It just wouldn’t work.
      “So it’s not going to work in Qatar either. It’s not as if the WAGS aren’t there!”
      Romp o’clock
      Natalia believes a month-long sex ban is impossible for the likes of Raheem Sterling and fiancée Paige Milian
      Harry Maguire and wife Fern will have to say no to sex too close to matches, says NataliaCredit: Instagram
      Natalia, who is based in London and boasts an international client list of athletes, entrepreneurs and politicians, reckons she knows the best time a player should have sex in order to give their best performance – on the pitch, that is.
      “The optimum time for a male footballer, like any elite male athlete, to have sex before a major sporting event is 72 hours,” she says.
      “That way the players can be at their peak mentally and physically for the challenge ahead.
      “Sex can be a reward for winning or a consolation for losing. So a win-win scenario for the players and, of course, their wives and girlfriends!
      ‘Stay strong for England’
      Natalia says WAGS like Anouska Santos, Luke Shaw’s partner must “stay strong” for EnglandCredit: Instagram @anouskasantos
      In order for the Squad to bring the World Cup home, WAGS must only have sex with their men after matches, says NataliaCredit: Instagram
      For the WAGS who have made it to Qatar to cheer on their men, Natalia says: “If you want your man to do well on the pitch you have to say ‘no’ to sex for 72 hours before each game.
      “You need to stay strong for England. Once the games are over, that’s when you can let your defences down – and hopefully the boys can rise to the occasion!
      “The lads need to reach the maximum levels of their animal potential. They need to be hungry for sex and hungry for the ball – obviously not at the same time!
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      “That way their all-round game will be so much better.
      “If they have sex too close to kick-off they won’t have either the energy or the motivation to do their best.”
      Natalia has worked with high profile athletes, entrepreneurs, and politiciansCredit: Supplied More

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      in Soccer

      I went undercover in nastiest football firm and fought fans if they broke golden rule – but there was a gutting twist

      by

      IN the run up to the 1990 World Cup all eyes were on the England team – not because of the players, but the thugs that followed them.The Italia ‘90 tournament ended a decade that saw football violence in the UK reach epic heights with warring fan groups – known as firms – leaving English supporters with a tarnished reputation that was feared around the world.
      Italia ’90 saw running battles involving English fansCredit: Alamy
      James Bannon blagged his way into the Millwall firmCredit: Channel 4
      As an undercover cop who infiltrated the London firm the Millwall Bushwackers in a doomed reconnaissance mission ahead of the tournament, James Bannon was in the thick of the action.
      Now the former Met officer – who appears in the Channel 4 documentary Italia ‘90: Saving English Football – tells The Sun how he gained the trust of Millwall hooligans and found himself in the midst of terrifying violence.
      “There were clubs that had reputations and you knew you were going to go there and meet opposing supporters that would want to have a fight,” he says.
      “But if I was going to be any good at what I did, I wasn’t going to be in the family enclosure. So yes, I got involved in the violence.
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      “I never incited or started a fight, but I was there to gather evidence against nasty, horrible people who brought violence to football, to take them off the streets and make stadiums safer places for people to go and watch.
      “It’s a fine line and undercover policing is not an exact science.
      “You are thinking on your feet every second because you have to try and stay within the law, while being convincing at what you are.
      “I would never run at somebody and hit them. But if somebody was coming at me who wanted to hit me then, trust me, I’m going to hit them first.”
      Most read in Football
      James was just 21 when he was asked to blag his way onto the terraces in 1987.
      Presenting himself as Wandsworth painter and decorator Jim Ford, he started his mission by becoming a regular at a pub in the Old Kent Road, South London, which was favoured by Millwall fans.
      “We went there for lunchtimes all summer, when there was no football on,” he says.
      “We got to know the bar staff and the locals so when the football season started in late August, nobody gave us a second look and that gave us credibility.
      “The landlord of the pub was one of Millwall’s top boys so we also got to know him, and it moved on from there.”
      Genned up on his Millwall history, so he could pass as a fan, James says he was helped by the fact that the club was doing well and many new faces were turning up at the games.
      “We had to gain people’s trust and I was fortunate because I was only 21,” he says.
      “I played that to my advantage, telling them I hadn’t been when I was younger, and I was now going with my ‘brother in law’, who was actually the officer I was working with. No one suspected someone so young and fresh-faced of being a copper.”
      The undercover job was a reconnaissance mission ahead of the World CupCredit: Getty
      James was just 21 when he took on the missionCredit: Channel 4
      The former cop appears in the Channel 4 documentaryCredit: Channel 4
      Highbury brawl
      James faced violent mobs on many occasions – and also came close to arrest himself during a legendary clash between Millwall and Arsenal fans after an FA cup match, in January 1988.
      He was among Millwall fans in the North Bank stand at Highbury – traditionally reserved for Arsenal – who started a mass brawl which ended in 41 supporters being arrested,
      “That was the most memorable,” he says. “We met up with the landlord of the pub and ended up in the middle of the Arsenal crowd with 15 of Millwall’s top hooligans, me and my sergeant.
      “I went from the middle of North Bank, being punched and kicked en route, and punching and kicking back, on to the sanctuary of the pitch, where I was then arrested.
      “But the copper was what we used to call a ‘Cake-eater’ – an officer that drove a desk in the week and did football on Saturdays for overtime – who was probably more nervous and scared than I was.
      “Instead of taking me down the tunnel, which is where you usually go if you get nicked, he led me the wrong way, towards 10,000 Millwall.
      “As we walked I got buoyed by 10,000 Millwall fans singing, screaming and pointing at me and he got more nervous, and weakened his grip.
      “I managed to break free and dive in the crowd – so that upped my credibility with the firm.”
      The FA cup match in 1988 ended in carnageCredit: PA
      Millwall started trouble in Arsenal’s standCredit: PA
      Ambush
      On another occasion, James travelled to an away game in Leeds on the train – and was ambushed by rival fans on the return journey.
      He says: “There was a massive fight. I was scared for my life. It was my first away match and it was a baptism of fire.
      “I got hit, punched and kicked a few times but luckily, never sustained any serious injuries.
      “We learned two things from that day – Leeds are pretty tasty and never travel on the football special.
      “After that we drove to away matches.”
      The Channel 4 documentary looks at the run up to Italia ‘90, and how Italian and UK authorities attempted to control the threat posed by English hooligans by managing ticket sales, moving the opening match to Sardinia, drafting in armed police and even banning alcohol sales on match days.
      Through interviews with police, footballers and former firm members, it examines the “subculture” of hooliganism, with disenfranchised young men finding a place to belong.
      Riaz Khan, from the Leicester Baby Squad, says he was involved in fights before and after matches and adds: “You were buzzing for the rest of the week, until the following Saturday. It was great.
      “I’d never had this sense of belonging to anything cos I was an Asian kid in a white school. I saw the football hooligans had their own sense of identity, it wasn’t about colour.”
      Gary ‘Boatsy’ Clarke, who belonged to Notts Forest Executive Crew, says the hooligans were proud of their international reputation.
      “England was the number one firm,” he says.
      “I was down as one of England’s main hooligans. We were looked upon as the devil – especially the firm that went to Italia ‘90.”
      Operation aborted
      Sadly for James, the Met Police pulled the plug on his undercover operation in 1989, a year before the tournament, after trials against West Ham and Chelsea fans collapsed when scientists cast doubt on evidence gathered by undercover officers.
      “They employed people to do some of this work who weren’t very good and some of the evidence had been made up,” he claims.
      “A decision was taken by senior politicians that they couldn’t stomach another trial and lose face so all of the operations were disbanded overnight.
      “It meant that two and a half years of my life were a complete and utter waste of f***ing time.
      “We went from being doing a pretty elite job, which required huge sacrifices, both emotionally and personally, to ‘Thanks very much. Now go back to Orpington and drive a panda car.’”
      Disillusioned, James left the force and ended up writing a book, Running With The Firm, and the 1995 film I.D. about his experiences.
      He has since been an actor, run a successful property company and a short-lived commercial airline, as well as starring in a one man stand up show.
      Read More on The Sun
      Although he is frustrated his undercover operation resulted in no arrests, he says he’s not sure his team would have much impact on Italia ‘90, where British fans were involved in running battles in the street and riots after England’s three matches in Cagliari.
      “I don’t think we’d have made a huge difference,” says James. “All we’d have been able to do was give them a heads up a little bit quicker and let the authorities know who was there and likely to cause trouble, but we were never given the opportunity to justify what we were doing.”
      Italia ‘90: Saving English Football continues tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.
      A bloodied England supporter in 1990Credit: Daily Mirror More

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      in Soccer

      Inside football’s most ridiculous divorce as exes war over ‘affairs’, bald cat and ‘secrets that would ruin 50 families’

      by

      NORMALLY bags are chucked out the window when a couple break up, but legendary striker Francesco Totti has taken his TV star wife’s designer ones hostage.It is the latest bizarre act in the increasingly acrimonious divorce of Italy’s version of Posh and Becks.
      Roma legend Totti with Ilary in happier timesCredit: Getty
      Glam Ilary is a model turned TV presenter
      They had been a golden couple, with Totti scoring 250 goals for Roma and winning the World Cup for his country, while his wife Ilary Blasi presented hit shows such as Italy’s version of I’m a Celebrity and Big Brother.
      Former model and actress Blasi, 41, and Totti, 46, are so famous that their wedding was broadcast live on television.  
      But cracks in their 17-year marriage started to show during lockdown.
      Totti admitted he nearly left his wife when she bought a hairless cat and when restrictions were lifted rumours of affairs started to circulate.
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      He was said to be seeing a much younger florist, while she was reported to have fallen for a tattooed man.
      Having decided to go their separate ways in July, Blasi decided to take Totti’s beloved Rolex watches and he supposedly responded by holding on to her designer shoes and handbags.
      He told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: “What could I do? I hid her handbags, hoping we could trade.”
      The glamorous bags in his custody are said to include Gucci, Dior, Chanel and Hermès plus shoes which are worth up to £3,500.
      Most read in Football
      Press reports say Blasi has asked a judge to order Totti to return her collection.
      Naked ambition?
      Blasi caused a stir in 2006 when she flashed a nipple during the Sanremo Song Fest and five years ago by snogging her Big Brother co-presenter Belen Rodriguez.
      She also posed topless in her early career and worked as a catwalk model.
      Totti was dubbed the Roman God due to his good looks and he once boasted: “I was 12 when I made ​​love for the first time. In Tropea, with a Roman girl who was 17 years old.”
      I was 12 when I made ​​love for the first timeFrancesco Totti
      He has been the butt of jokes about his lack of intelligence after a journalist suggested the player “carpe diem?” and Totti replied: “Sorry, my English isn’t very good.”
      Carpe diem is a well known Latin phrase which means seize the day.
      Eventually, he saw the funny side and agreed to publish a book called All the Totti Jokes, Collected by Me, which sold 150,000 copies in just two weeks.
      Two years ago a documentary was made about the striker called My Name Is Francesco Totti, which presented him as a largely untroubled athlete and lauded him for never leaving top Italian side Roma.
      Covid breakdown
      His loyalty to Blasi also appeared to be concrete, having spent 20 years together.
      They tied the knot in June 2005 in an ancient church in Rome with a satellite channel reporting on the event live.
      Blasi was pregnant with their first child, 17-year-old Cristian, at the time and they now also have two daughters Chanel, 15, and Isabel, six.
      However, Covid restrictions undermined the family unit – first due to a feline interloper.
      In 2020 he revealed: “I was furious with my wife, she bought a hairless cat and called it Donna Paola.
      “It’s boiling. At night, it insists on sleeping inside our bed, next to our legs. She’s a very affectionate cat, but almost caused us to break up.
      I was furious with my wife, she bought a hairless cat Francesco Totti
      “Ilary wanted a cat at all costs and I was adamant we shouldn’t. One day, she brought it home, because ultimately she makes all the decisions in this family.
      “We didn’t speak for days, but in the end, I fell in love with the cat too.”
      Then his dad Ezno died from the virus at the age of 76 in October 2020 and Totti spiralled into depression.
      He told a newspaper:  “I have lived through a difficult period, first because I stopped playing and then my father died due to Covid.
      “I also had strong Covid for 15 days. However, my wife, when I needed her most, was not there.”
      Rumours of affairs
      Totti claims that friends informed him that his wife was seeing another man, so he decided to scour her phone for evidence.
      He said: “When I received warnings from different people, whom I trust, I began to suspect.
      “I looked at her cell phone and I saw that there was a third person, who acted as an intermediary between Ilary and another.
      “Here was the evidence. And that led me to depression.”
      He is now dating florist Noemi Bocchi, 34.
      Ilary dated other men before my story with Noemi was bornFrancesco Totti
      But he insists they only began to see each other romantically once his relationship with Blasi was over.
      Totti alleged: “We used to hang out as friends. Ilary dated other men before my story with Noemi was born.” 
      So far Blasi has not spoken publicly about the cheating rumours 
      But she has said: “I’ve discovered things that would ruin 50 families.”
      The couple are expected to agree to share custody of their children.
      Read More on The Sun
      Whether they can come to an agreement about their bling is another matter.
      One insider said:  “All she has to do is return the watches and this is over.”
      Blasi and Totti getting married in 2005Credit: Getty
      Ilary has no shortage of designer gearCredit: instagram
      She loves a glam holiday tooCredit: Instagram
      Noemi Bocchi is Totti’s new girlfriendCredit: Alamy
      Totti didn’t speak to his wife after she got this hairless dogCredit: Instagram/@ilaryblasi
      Ilary took part in the Miss Italia beauty contest in 1998Credit: Getty
      She posted a cheeky snap days after the splitCredit: instagram More