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    Model Izabel Goulart wows in barely-there bikini and Santa hat with footie fiancé Kevin Trapp

    IZABEL Goulart sees in Christmas with a little lift.The model mucked about with her footballer fiancé Kevin Trapp on a beach in St Barts.
    Izabel and Trapp began dating in 2015 and got engaged three years laterCredit: Splash
    The model mucked about with her footballer fiancé Kevin Trapp on a beach in St BartsCredit: Splash
    Izabel, 38, lent back as German goalkeeper Kevin, 32, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, lifted her in the air using his legs.
    She wore a bright red bikini with a Santa hat on the beach in the Caribbean where they are on holiday with friends.
    As well as being lifted up by Kevin, Izabel did headstands and push ups on the beach.
    Trapp, 32, did not feature in any of the WC matches as No1 Manuel Neuer kept his position throughout the group stage.
    READ MORE GLAM
    And Hansi Flick’s men failed to progress to the last-16 as a win over Costa Rica failed to make up for the loss to Japan and draw with Spain.
    Now Izabel and Trapp, who began dating in 2015 and got engaged three years later, have jetted out to St Barts for a post-World Cup holiday.
    The Eintracht Frankfurt keeper is still one month out from his first club game back on January 21. More

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    A gas fitter’s son who said the only cup worth winning was the World Cup… George Cohen was England’s greatest right back

    ENGLAND football hero George Cohen liked to say that if you’re only going to win a single trophy during your career, then it might as well be the World Cup.And he not only achieved that accolade as part of Sir Alf Ramsey’s glory boys of ’66, but no lesser figure than George Best described him as “the best full-back I ever played against”, while Sir Alf called him “England’s greatest right-back”. 
    George Cohen with Jack Charlton and West Germany’s  Lothar Emmerich looking on in England’s victorious World Cup final of 1966Credit: Getty
    George, second left, and ’66 cup-winning team mates collect MBEs in 2000 at Buckingham PalaceCredit: Mirrorpix
    George’s death yesterday aged 83 leaves just two of England’s world-beating squad of 1966 — Sir Geoff Hurst, 81, and 85-year-old Sir Bobby Charlton
    George’s death yesterday aged 83 leaves just two of England’s world-beating squad of 1966 — Sir Geoff Hurst, 81, and 85-year-old Sir Bobby Charlton.
    Hat-trick hero Sir Geoff tweeted: “Very sad to hear my friend and England team-mate has died.
    “Everyone, without exception, always said that George was such a lovely man. He will be sadly missed, my heartfelt thoughts are with George’s wife Daphne and his family.”
    Toothless kiss
    For George, 13 years of club football at Fulham brought no honours and relatively modest financial reward.
    READ MORE ON ENGLAND ’66
    Yet after beating cancer three times, and his mother, father and brother dying in tragic circumstances, he was only too aware of life’s priorities.
    When he sold his World Cup winner’s medal in 1998 for £80,000 to fund his and Daphne’s retirement, he said: “What I have been through does help put things in perspective.”
    Yet George — whose nephew is 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Ben Cohen — did treasure his memories of that glorious July day at Wembley 56 years ago, the only time England have been crowned football champions of the world.
    A witty and down-to-earth man, he recalled: “You can’t imagine the euphoria before the final. Then coming out of the dressing room, all we could hear was a beehive-like noise at the end of the tunnel.
    Most read in Football
    “When we hit the open air the noise, movement and colour blew everything out of your mind.
    “When the final whistle went I was in shock. The next thing I knew I was on the floor with Nobby Stiles giving me a big, toothless kiss.
    “Now I know what it’s like to be kissed by Mick Jagger.”
    The victory was a crowning achievement for a working-class lad brought up amid post-war rationing and austerity in West London.
    George Reginald Cohen was born on October 22, 1939, at Walham Green in Fulham.
    His dad Louis was a gas fitter and mum Catherine worked as stores manager at the nearby Lots Road power station. They had two other sons, Peter and Harry.
    Though his surname came from a Jewish great grandfather, George was brought up in the Church of England.
    He excelled at boxing and football at Fulham Central School, and although his dad wanted him to be an electrician, sport was his calling.
    He joined the maintenance staff at Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground as a 16-year-old apprentice, and in 1956 at the age of 17 he made his debut as right-back against Liverpool.
    In 1957 he became a first-team regular, though the most he ever earned at Craven Cottage was £80 a week — loose change compared to the lottery sums paid to today’s players.
    George later said: “The biggest assets I had were speed and strength. I was chunky, never fat. We didn’t have the food to be fat.”
    In 1962 he married Daphne, the friend of a team-mate’s wife, and they had two sons, Andrew and Anthony.
    As a player he was as adept at getting forward as he was in defence, and soon attracted the attention of England boss Sir Alf.
    He made his full England debut in May 1964, against Uruguay, and played in every game at the 1966 tournament, to great acclaim. In the quarter-finals England met an Argentina versed in the art of games-manship, in a famously violent match.
    George later wrote: “Tackles were flying in — and so was the spittle. Our front men, (Roger) Hunt and (Geoff) Hurst, were taking most of it . . . and even in defence we were getting hit late and dangerously.”
    At the final whistle, George went to exchange shirts with Argentina forward Alberto Gonzalez, only for Sir Alf to abruptly intervene.
    In front of TV cameras there was a tug of war with the shirt, and George said later: “Alf was livid with the way the Argentinians had played. He said, ‘You’re not changing your shirt with that animal’. So I pulled it back.
    “Consequently I had a shirt with a sleeve four feet long.”
    Before the legendary final against West Germany, George recalled: “I felt like an infantryman going into the line and not knowing quite what to expect . . . maybe I wouldn’t be a hero but a goat.”
    But he had a good game, and with England’s 4-2 victory, sporting immortality beckoned — even if the rewards weren’t always world-class.
    Burger bar
    Each England player received a bonus from the FA — of a paltry £1,000. And the squad were invited to a celebratory banquet at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, West London — but the players’ wives were not included.
    George said: “OK, you were elated, but you couldn’t even enjoy the official dinner — our wives were upstairs in a burger bar.
    “We’d been away from our wives for ages, and even Nobby Stiles can look attractive after six and a half weeks. Hahaha! Perhaps not!”
    The next year George played his 37th and last England game, a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland. A couple of weeks later he suffered a knee injury playing for Fulham against Liverpool, which led to his retirement in 1969, aged just 29.
    A one-club man, he had played 459 trophy-less games and was given an £18,000 insurance payout by Fulham and received a further £8,000 from a testimonial match.
    Then after a spell as Fulham’s youth team manager, he left football and moved into the more lucrative field of property management.
    He made some profitable deals but when planning permission was refused on some land he had sunk all his capital into, he and Daphne had to sell their home, though they eventually recouped the losses.
    George also had to cope with family tragedy. His dad Louis died of lung cancer aged just 51, and in 1971 his mum Catherine was killed by a lorry in a Fulham street.
    In 2000 his younger brother, Northampton nightclub owner Peter — rugby star Ben’s dad — died after being attacked by thugs. 
    George recalled: “Initially, Ben couldn’t focus on anything other than what had happened to his dad.
    Clash of the Titans as George Best tackles his hero GeorgeCredit: PA:Press Association
    George and Sir Geoff Hurst have a cup of tea in 2009 at WembleyCredit: Getty
    George with his nephew and 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Ben CohenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    George sold his World Cup winner’s medal in 1998 for £80,000 to fund his and Daphne’s retirementCredit: PA:Press Association
    “It was an awful time for the family, but the boy knuckled down. We had long talks.
    “It’s something you never forget but eventually he started to come round and began playing again. 
    “Now you can see what a determined character he is. He’s very single-minded. I was much the same as a footballer. Ben’s devoted himself to his rugby.
    “Had Peter been alive today he’d be seven feet tall. He saw Ben make his debut and was so proud that he was playing for England.”
    George had had his own brush with death in 1976, aged 36, when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer after being mysteriously struck down by crippling fatigue following a five-mile run near his home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
    He recalled: “My world was turned upside down. I was a world champion and I was still very fit.
    “One day I felt invincible and the next, the doctors put me in a side room at the Royal Marsden (cancer hospital) for people who weren’t going to make it, and talked about getting my affairs in order.
    “Daphne told the doctors, ‘We’re not getting his affairs in order, because he’s not going anywhere’.”
    A series of operations removed so much of George’s bowel that he had to be fitted with a colostomy bag.
    He later said: “A colostomy brings you down to earth, believe me.”
    He was finally given the all-clear in 1990. When ’66 skipper Bobby Moore died from the same disease in 1993, George became a patron for the charity set up in his honour.
    Scandalously, it took a media campaign for George to be given an MBE in 2000, along with four team-mates from 1966 who had never received official recognition for England’s greatest sporting triumph.
    As George stepped up to receive the honour, the Queen — who had presented the Boys of ’66 with their medals at Wembley — told him: “It’s been a long time.”
    Bye to a true gent
    Match Of The Day host, Gary Lineker paid tribute to ‘hero’ GeorgeCredit: Getty
    FOOTBALL paid heartfelt tribute to George yesterday.
    Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker wrote: “Another of the heroes of the ’66 World Cup-winning team leaves us. He’ll always have footballing immortality. RIP George.”
    George’s former Fulham team-mate Alan Mullery said: “I’ve just got a kick in the teeth, he’s not been well for some time now.
    “George had a wonderful life, he’s got a wonderful family and he was a terrific player to play with.”
    Bobby Moore’s widow Stephanie spoke of her close friend GeorgeCredit: Dan Charity
    World Cup-winning skipper Bobby Moore’s widow Stephanie said: “George was a close friend of Bobby’s and he himself had bowel cancer in the mid-1970s, but made a full recovery. George was a loyal supporter of the Bobby Moore Fund and will be sadly missed by us all. We send our sincere condolences to Daphne and all the family.”
    Former England and West Ham striker Tony Cottee said: “So sad to hear about the passing of George Cohen. I had the pleasure of meeting this absolute gentleman on many occasions. So sad that another of our ’66 boys has gone . . . RIP George.”
    Fulham manager Marco Silva said: “It is a huge loss for Fulham, for English football. As manager, I want to send our condolences to his family.
    “He is one of the biggest examples in the club’s history, the numbers he reached speak for themselves. He is really important for the club and it is a sad day for us.”
    Read More on The Sun
    Frank Lampard spoke of his sadness at losing another of the victorious ’66 squadCredit: Getty
    Everton manager Frank Lampard said: “I always was drawn to that group of players (1966 World Cup squad) and it is always more than a shame when we lose one of those players.”
    FA chairwoman Debbie Hewitt said: “We are very sad. We would like to pass on our deep condolences to George’s family and friends at this sad time.” More

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    David Beckham dons Stetson and sips whisky while dressed like a cowboy

    FOOTBALL legend David Beckham draws inspiration from the Wild West — by dressing up like a cowboy.Becks, 47, who has more than a fistful of dollars, wore a Stetson and sipped whisky in snaps he captioned: “What’s my new favourite TV series?”
    David Beckham dressed like a cowboy and wrote: ‘What’s my new favourite TV series?’Credit: davidbeckham/Instagram
    Becks wore a Stetson and sipped whisky in the snaps
    The horse emoji with the message is thought to refer to Yellowstone with Kevin Costner.
    Seems Becks is along for the ride.
    Beckam recently said the Qatar World Cup “has the power to be a force for good” after defending his £150million deal to be the face of the finals.
    The ex-England captain broke his silence last week in response to being called out by comedian Joe Lycett.
    Read More on David Beckham
    Lycett protested against Beckham’s £15million-a-year agreement to be an ambassador for the emirate.
    He went viral for his money-shredding stunt last month after he issued an ultimatum to Beckham for the Qatar deal, where homosexuality is illegal.
    If Beckham did not pull out of the deal, Lycett said he would shred £10,000. 
    It was later revealed that Lycett had in fact donated it to an LGBTQ+ charity.
    Most read in Football
    Kevin Costner as John Dutton in hit show YellowstoneCredit: Rex More

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    Ex-Premier League footie star Richard Rufus faces jail for scamming family & friends out of £8m to fund luxury lifestyle

    AN ex-Premier League footballer faces jail for scamming family and friends out of £8million to fund a luxury lifestyle.Richard Rufus, 47, who played for Charlton and England under-21s, duped pals into investing in a dodgy pyramid scheme.
    Richard Rufus posed as a foreign exchange trader and lied that football friends had invested with himCredit: Central News
    He formerly played for Charlton and England under-21sCredit: Nicky Hayes
    Posing as a foreign exchange trader, he lied that football friends, including Rio Ferdinand, had invested with him.
    He spent the money on a Bentley and five-bedroom house on an exclusive private estate in South London, Southwark crown court heard.
    His victims included his church, which lost £3.5million, and ex-Chelsea defender Paul Elliott.
    Rufus apologised for losing the money but denied wrongdoing.
    READ MORE ON FRAUD
    He was found guilty of fraud, illegal trading and possessing criminal property.
    He was bailed ahead of sentencing next month but ordered to wear a tag. More

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    Hypocrite Gary Neville hates gig economy…unless it’s well-paid Qatar one

    THE race for that prestigious award Thick As A Plank Hypocrite Of The Year (TAAPHOTY) is really hotting up.Gary Neville reckoned he’d got the prize in the bag but then along comes fantastically unfunny “comedian” Joe Lycett and nearly nicks it from him.
    The race for that prestigious award Thick As A Plank Hypocrite Of The Year (TAAPHOTY) is really hotting up, pictured Gary NevilleCredit: Rex
    Neville reckoned he’d got the prize in the bag but then along comes fantastically unfunny Joe Lycett and nearly nicks it from himCredit: Rex
    Congrats, Gary. You’ve won your prize. In the end, nobody came close. Now, see if you can retain the trophy next yearCredit: Rex
    Lycett made a big hoo-ha about the money David Beckham received from the Qatari government.
    As it happens, Beckham was indeed one of the TAAPHOTY nominees for his sterling work in trousering money from the Arabs after spouting woke LGBTQ slogans and so on.
    But it’s a bit much for the ghastly Lycett to have a go.
    As The Sun revealed, he did a couple of paid gigs in Qatar in 2015. The biter bitten, then. Pure, unadorned, hypocrisy.
    READ MORE ON GARY NEVILLE
    But Joe always had his work cut out wresting the trophy from Gary Neville.
    The Mancunian football pundit wins by a length. Not least for his staggering pig-ignorance.
    Neville is paid for his brilliance as a football pundit, such as not being sure “where the goals are going to come from” shortly before Spain won 7-0. He is not paid for his political nous — which is just as well, because you could fit all of his into a vole’s nutsack.
    Not just stupid, it is ­odious
    Commenting on Qatar’s disgraceful record on using slave labour, he said: “It is just worth mentioning that we’ve got a current government in our country who are demonising rail workers, ambulance workers and, ­terrifyingly, nurses.
    Most read in Football
    “So, in our country, we’ve got to look at workers’ rights — but where football goes, we have to pick up on workers’ rights wherever it goes because people have to be treated equally.
    “We can’t have ­people being paid a pittance to work. We can’t have people in accommodation which is unsavoury and disgusting. It should not happen here.”
    You abject ninny, Neville. To compare the plight of ­British workers on strike for more money with the slave labourers of Qatar is not just stupid, it is ­odious.
    I agree the nurses should be paid more dosh, sure. But they are not being killed, are they? Nor do they have their passports taken away from them so that they have no free movement.
    Maybe this gobby, wooden-headed clown should see what happens when people in Qatar DO go on strike.
    Industrial action is illegal in Qatar and the few migrant workers who have dared to complain about their ­appalling treatment were rounded up, detained and then kicked out of the country.
    To compare their plight to that of the nurses here is simply ­outrageous.
    But then there’s the hypocrisy of Neville. He was happy to work in Qatar and trouser loads of dosh. He was even happy to work as a pundit for ­Qatari TV.
    This is hypocrisy on a whole other level. And maybe he should take a bit of time to listen to the complaints of the underpaid workers at a place called Hotel Football.
    Hotel Football is in Manchester and it is co-owned by Neville and the loveable little Ryan Giggs. It is currently advertising for staff — paying just £9.50 per hour.
    That’s the minimum wage. Over the course of a year, people working in this idiot’s luxury hotel would earn about HALF of a nurse’s salary.
    So congrats, Gary. You’ve won your prize. In the end, nobody came close. Now, see if you can retain the trophy next year.
    Pretty likely, I reckon.

    THINGS are hotting up a bit on the India-China border, with troops throwing stones at each other.
    The two countries are on the brink of war over disputed territory.
    Normally, we would be four-square behind the Indians. But the country has refused to condemn Russia’s ­invasion of Ukraine.
    And they took advantage of the war to sign a massive gas deal with the Russians.
    So stuff it, India. You’re on your own. What goes around . . .

    Yule never believe . . .
    THE phrase “Merry Christmas” was first written by Bishop Charles Booth of Hereford in 1520, 14 years earlier than originally thought, according to new research. OK, fine.
    I have been making my own study of the origins of traditional Christmas stuff and have unearthed the following . . . 
    Wizzard’s 1973 smash hit I Wish It Could Be Christmas EverydayCredit: Getty – Contributor
    The tune was actually written in 1512, by King Henry VCredit: Alamy
    The Christmas Truce of 1914 between German and English soldiers was almost ruined when a Brazilian man wandered into No Man’s LandCredit: Getty

    Robins are associated with Christmas because in the 12th Century that was the ­largest bird poor folk could afford for their festive dinner.
    The Christmas Truce of 1914 between German and English soldiers was almost ruined when a Brazilian man wandered into No Man’s Land and insisted on refereeing the football game, later denying England three stonewall penalties.
    In 1255, Genoese diplomat Luca Grimaldi was charged with the task of finding a suitable present for his mother-in-law. He instructed his kitchen staff to “create something vast, dry and inedible, so that she might choke to death”. Thus was born panettone.
    Wizzard’s 1973 smash hit I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday was actually written in 1512, by King Henry VIII.
    While Christmas was banned by Oliver Cromwell in the 1640s, people were still expected to eat turkey, because Cromwell owned a huge turkey farm (and actually invented Turkey Twizzlers).

    In 1255, Genoese diplomat Luca Grimaldi was charged with the task of finding a suitable present for his mother-in-law – thus was born panettoneCredit: Oliver Dixon
    While Christmas was banned by Oliver Cromwell in the 1640s, people were still expected to eat turkey, because Cromwell owned a huge turkey farmCredit: Getty
    ON the subject of Christmas, this is beyond parody.
    The much-loved carol God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, which dates back centuries, has been rewritten by an American idiot and sung at a church in Leicestershire.
    The much-loved carol God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, which dates back centuries, has been rewritten by an American idiotCredit: Getty
    The second verse now begins, “God rest you also, women, who by men have been erased, through history ignored and scorned, defiled and displaced”.
    So, it’s stupid, tendentious and doesn’t even rhyme or scan. Or make sense.
    The third verse starts: “God rest you, queer and questioning, your anxious hearts be still.” I suppose it’s too much to hope that the church is struck by a divine thunderbolt.

    TIME TO THANK NURSES
    THE manacles and gimp mask I had ordered as a present for our local vicar have failed to arrive.
    I blame the striking posties. It is a disgrace that frisky members of the clergy won’t get the gifts they deserve this Christmas.
    The Government should make a decent settlement with the nurses, rather than pretend it is not the final arbiterCredit: EPA
    Meanwhile, the nurses are out and so are the ambulance workers.
    And the two sides are arguing as to who should be blamed if we pop our clogs because we can’t get treated in hospital.
    The Government should make a decent settlement with the nurses, rather than pretend it is not the final arbiter.
    We can bang our saucepans together for the NHS until doomsday but it’s a decent wage the nurses really want.
    Light just round the corner
    WELL, thank the Lord. The shortest day of the year is over.
    From here on in, the days become longer and lighter. And warmer.
    It’s been a struggle for lots of people this year – hard-working people finding it very difficult to make ends meet.
    But this misery won’t last for ever – there is light just round the corner, so have some hope.
    And have a wonderful Christmas.

    ‘Only God can judge me’
    MELISSA SLOAN is feeling terribly hurt. She says she was banned from her kid’s Nativity play and had to watch it through a window.
    She’s also been banned from the town Christmas fair and from her local pubs.
    Melissa Sloan is surprised people don’t want to look at herCredit: Roland Leon
    The reason is that her entire face, and body, are covered with hundreds of tattoos, above.
    She is surprised people don’t want to look at her.
    Read More on The Sun
    One of Melissa’s ­tattoos reads: “Only God can judge me.”
    Hmmm. I’d get that one inked over. Because, as you are now aware, it’s not true, is it? More

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    Anthony Joshua signs up for CBeebies bedtime story rematch as he reads second book on the channel

    BOXER Anthony Joshua is expected to be such a big hit on CBeebies Bedtime Stories he’s already signed up for a rematch.It was revealed last week the ex-world champ is to read children’s tale The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats.
    Anthony Joshua is expected to be such a big hit on CBeebies Bedtime Stories he’s already signed up to read another oneCredit: PA
    A date has not been fixed for that but I can reveal he will read another story on the kids’ channel tomorrow — Ravi’s Roar, by Tom Percival.
    A TV insider said: “The reaction to AJ featuring on CBeebies Bedtime Stories has been huge. There’s so much excitement.
    “The BBC were desperate to book him in for another sitting, which he gladly agreed to. It’s a privilege to be asked twice and he sees it as a great honour.”
    AJ follows in the footsteps of Harry Styles, Tom Hardy and Chris Hemsworth.
    READ MORE ON CBeebies
    Ravi’s Roar tells the story of an angry young boy who learns to express and understand his feelings. The Snowy Day is about a lad named Peter who puts on his snowsuit and steps out of his house into a wintry world.
    When published in 1962, he was among the first African-American characters to feature in a major children’s book.
    Kate Winslet and Richard E Grant are some of the big names to read a story on CBeebies over Christmas. But neither packs a punch as big as AJ.
    DAVID KID ’COPTER CAPERS
    ONLY Fools And Horses legend David Jason is lining up a cartoon return with his own series.
    Most read in Boxing
    The voice of Eighties favourite Danger Mouse, who is also a qualified helicopter pilot, has come up with a character called Olly the Heli, which is “in development”.
    David Jason is lining up a cartoon return with his own seriesCredit: Getty
    David revealed in his new book, The Twelve Dels of Christmas, his creation is a young helicopter with a friendly face who “misbehaves a bit”, and “something perhaps on the Thomas the Tank Engine lines” .
    David came up with the idea on a visit to an airfield last year, when he was flown in a Gazelle helicopter by astronaut Tim Peake.
    He added: “‘Do you want to land it?’ Tim generously asked as we returned to the airfield. I wasn’t going to push my luck. ‘I think I’ll leave that to you, Tim,’ I said.
    “So, that was how the idea of Olly the Heli got going – a little production journey still in development at the time of writing. We’ll see where it ends up.”
    Prue’s truth
    PRUE LEITH wants “someone I’ve heard of” to replace host Matt Lucas on Bake Off.
    On Virgin Radio, the Channel 4 show’s judge said she didn’t have a clue who co-host Noel Fielding was when he joined the series.
    Prue added: “I’ve never understood Matt and Noel’s jokes.”

    WONDER MOVIE IS TOP PICK
    IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE has been voted the greatest Christmas film of all time by Radio Times.
    The 1946 festive classic starring James Stewart topped a readers’ poll.
    More than one in five voters – 1,650 in total – named the movie their favourite.
    Somewhat criminally, Will Ferrell’s Elf only made No4, with The Muppet Christmas Carol and Home Alone taking the No2 and No3 spots and Love Actually making up the remainder of the top five.
    The black and white movie also topped last year’s poll. But Die Hard, which was No4, slipped out of the top five in 2022 and down to No6.
    Bruce Willis would pull his hair out, if he had any.
    GARY: I’M ON BABY MISSION
    GARY LUCY’s romance with Celebs Go Dating co-star Laura Anderson could be getting even more serious.
    The pair, who met on the E4 dating show, have already discussed having children together.
    Gary Lucy’s romance with Celebs Go Dating co-star Laura Anderson could be getting even more seriousCredit: Instagram
    And dad-of-four Gary says his virility is so strong, Laura could already be expecting.
    He said: “We’re smitten. We’ve talked kids. I mean, I’m quite potent, so she might already be pregnant! I have four kids already but I want more. I’ve always wanted kids. I love kids.”
    The former Hollyoaks actor says a huge incentive for having more children is being able to name one Gary – as the name is dying out.
    He added: “I do want a boy, because I want to have another little Gary – carry it on, as I hear the name’s dying out and I think that’d be a real shame.”
    Spare a thought for us Rodericks.
    LAURA A SUCKER FOR PIGS
    LAURA BINGHAM has left fans of her TV adventurer hubby Ed Stafford gobsmacked – after claiming she breastfed a pig.
    The fellow explorer and mum-of-three took care of a piglet when it was rejected by its mum at their farm.
    The piglet has now been welcomed into the family home. Writing on Instagram she said: “So I can now tick breast feed a piglet off my bucket list!
    “Did you know that indigenous communities do it?! So it’s normal OK?! I force fed some formula down her with a syringe and then when she started waking up a bit more, she didn’t want a bottle so I thought, what the heck?!”
    We’ve all been there, Laura.

    STRICTLY runner-up Helen Skelton said pros on the show didn’t want Hamza Yassin, partnered with Jowita Przystal, to take home the trophy.
    On her Radio 5 show she said they wanted her partner Gorka to triumph on his third time in the final, adding: “You could tell how gutted we were.” More

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    Lionel Messi raises World Cup for Argentina and tearfully hugs his sons after victory in greatest final since 1966

    FOOTIE icon Lionel Messi fell to his knees in tears and hugged his two young sons after winning the World Cup yesterday in the greatest final since 1966.The Argentinian skipper, 35, led his country to victory in an epic match against France — then couldn’t wait to celebrate with his family.
    Lionel Messi tearfully embraced his two sons on the pitch following his World Cup win against France in the finalCredit: Getty
    The Argentinian skipper, 35, led his country to victory in an epic match against the reigning champions – pictured lifting the trophy surrounded by team-matesCredit: Reuters
    He tearfully embraced his mother Celia Maria Cuccittini on the pitch before his two eldest sons Mateo, seven, and Thiago, ten, ran on to give their dad a cuddle.
    Argentinian fans in the stadium and across the world watched as their hero flashed a beaming smile and lifted the golden trophy — capping a glittering career.
    The little magician — playing in his last tournament — scored a penalty as his side took a 2-0 lead but late goals from French superstar Kylian Mbappe took the thrilling game into extra time at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium.
    Both Messi and Mbappe scored again before Argentina won 4-2 on penalties in a nail-biting finale.
    READ MORE ON MESSI
    TV football host and former England striker Gary Lineker said afterwards: “It’s been an absolute privilege to watch Lionel Messi for nearly two decades.
    France’s hat-trick hero Kylian Mbappe is downcast after being awarded the golden bootCredit: Reuters
    Fans party at the home of the late Argentine legend Maradona in Buenos AiresCredit: AFP
    Icon Maradona died aged 60 in 2020Credit: AFP
    Argentina fans in London’s Piccadilly Circus celebrate their first World Cup in 36 yearsCredit: Mike Ruane / Story Picture Agency
    “Moment after moment of spellbinding, breathtakingly joyous football. He’s a gift from the footballing Gods. So pleased that he’s lifted the ultimate prize in our sport. Gracias y felicidades, campeón.”
    Comic and Three Lions singer David Baddiel tweeted: “What a f***ing game this is. The World Cup final is almost never like this.”
    TalkTV presenter and Sun columnist Piers Morgan tweeted: “Utterly thrilling. What an advert for the beautiful game.
    Most read in Football
    “Congrats to Lionel Messi his team. Commiserations to the French who gave it everything, especially the brilliant Mbappe. Football eh . .  bloody hell!”
    Prince William tweeted his congratulations to Messi and called him the GOAT (greatest of all time) with an emoji.
    He wrote: “What. A. Final. Congratulations to Argentina and to Messi. Commiserations to France – both teams played brilliantly. W”
    England’s 1966 hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst paid tribute to French ace Mbappe, 23, who equalled him by becoming the second man to score three goals in a World Cup final.
    Sir Geoff, 81, said: “Many congratulations to Mbappe, whatever happens. I’ve had a great run!”
    Messi became the first Argentinian to lift the World Cup since the late Diego Maradona in 1986 — joining him on the nation’s pedestal as a football god.
    Five hundred fans gathered at the former home of Maradona — who died aged 60 in 2020 — to watch the win on a poolside big screen after its new owners opened the doors for an exclusive party.
    Expat Argentines in Britain celebrated with an impromptu party outside the Moo Cantina gastropub in Pimlico, South London. Others gathered in London’s Piccadilly Circus waving their country’s flag.
    More than 100,000 supporters packed the streets of Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires.
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    Footage showed them jumping and hugging as Gonzalo Montiel fired home the winning penalty.

    TELLY football pundit Gary Neville sparked fury yesterday after he appeared to liken the rights of migrant workers in Qatar to the nurses’ strike in the UK over pay. The ex-England defender, 47, launched a tirade about the Government’s treatment of NHS staff on ITV ahead of the big match.
    Additional reporting: THOMAS GODFREY

    GAME UP THERE WITH THE BESTBy Nick Parker, at Lusail Stadium
    I SAW Gazza’s tears at Italia 90 and Beckham sent off in 1998 and, after seven World Cups, thought I’d witnessed every possible drama.
    Most veteran footie watchers like me were expecting Argentina and France to play a dull, tight and cagey duel. How wrong we were.
    The teams gave us a game which outshone the fireworks on Lionel Messi lifting the trophy.
    Yet with ten minutes left, France had not mustered a single shot on goal. I’d already written my story about triumphant Messi.
    Included was the line: “French president Emmanuel Macron turned up with 5,000 fans — but it was a shame their team didn’t.”
    Then, in the space of 90 seconds, Kylian Mbappe levelled it up with a penalty and brilliant volley. That meant extra time, and with it more expectations of safe play with no risks.
    The teams were having none of it. Messi popped up with a scrambled third only for Mbappe to hit back with a second penalty.
    Argentina prevailed in the ensuing penalty shoot-out in the greatest ever World Cup Final. More

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    England’s Jude Bellingham’s image rights firm makes £1m — with the ace set to multiply amount

    ENGLAND World Cup star Jude Bellingham’s image rights company has made £1million — but is set to earn many millions more.The 19-year-old midfielder’s firm, Bello & Bello, has also registered his name and shirt number JB22 as a trademark.
    Figures published just before he played his first game in Qatar reveal his company had assets of £1.26million
    Figures published just before he played his first game in Qatar reveal his company had assets of £1.26million but owed just over £200,000 for the year to the end of February.
    The West Mids-born ace began his career at Birmingham City and now plays for German side Borussia Dortmund.
    But he was one of the young stars of the World Cup and is starting to enjoy off-field success.
    A source said: “Jude’s made a real name for himself and he’s got his affairs in order financially.
    READ MORE ON JUDE BELLINGHAM
    “He’s got his feet on the ground and wants to do well for himself.” More