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      England ace Jesse Lingard sells burglary-hit mansion weeks after putting it on market

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      ENGLAND footie ace Jesse Lingard has sold his burglary-hit mansion two weeks after putting it on the market.The midfielder, 29, was targeted as then-club Man United drew 2-2 with Aston Villa on January 15.
      A source said that Lingard didn’t feel safe in his home after break-inCredit: MatchDay Images Limited
      A gang took £100,000 of gems and clothes in the raid in Bowdon, Gtr Manchester.
      Lingard, who moved to Nottingham Forest in the summer, has now sold the five-bedroom home for £3.25million.
      A source said: “He just wants rid of it after the break-in.
      “He loved that house but didn’t feel safe after that, especially as he has a young daughter.”
      READ MORE ON JESSE LINGARD
      During the 2020 lockdown, Lingard offered fans a glimpse into his home as part of MTV’s Cribs.
      He showed off his swimming pool, home cinema and England caps proudly on display.
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      Calls to kick Iran out of World Cup grow after sending military experts to help Russian troops in Ukraine

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      CALLS to kick Iran out of the World Cup are growing after it deployed military experts to Ukraine to help Russian troops.The strict Islamic state sent personnel to Crimea to assist with the deadly bombardment of Ukraine’s towns and cities with kamikaze drones.
      Calls to kick Iran out of the World Cup are growing after it deployed military experts to Ukraine to help Russian troopsCredit: AFP
      Iran sent personnel to Crimea to assist with the deadly bombardment of Ukraine’s towns and cities with kamikaze drones, aboveCredit: AP
      Protests are also raging after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, arrested for not wearing a headscarf correctly, died in custodyCredit: Newsflash
      The country is already under fire for killing more than 200 protesters including 23 children. They rose up over the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, arrested for not wearing a headscarf correctly.
      Campaigners also urged Fifa to act because of its ban on women attending football matches, imposed in 1979 by clerics who said that letting them watch men play in shorts “promotes promiscuity”.
      Iran are due to face England on November 21 but a petition urging Fifa to kick them out has more than 22,000 signatures.
      One campaigner said: “Iranians believe the team is not representing them but a regime which is hurting its own people and violating their rights.
      READ MORE ON IRAN
      “Fifa claims to ‘Strive to promote the protection of human rights’ — so start striving Fifa and protect us and our rights.
      “Many countries have been banned from the World Cup before for the violation of human rights.
      “It’s time the Iranian regime pays the price.”
      This week it emerged Iranian IT experts were deployed to Crimea to help Russia operate the Shahed-136 drones which have blitzed power plants and residential areas.
      Most read in Football
      The Iranian-made weapons destroyed almost a third of the country’s power stations and killed at least four people.
      White House national security spokesman John Kirby said: “We assess that Iranian military personnel were on the ground in Crimea and assisted Russia in these operations.
      “Tehran is now directly engaged on the ground, and through the provision of weapons that are impacting civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. The US will pursue all means to expose, deter and confront Iran’s provision of these munitions against the Ukrainian people.”
      The Iranian regime is facing its biggest threat since the 1979 revolution after weeks of violence since student Mahsa died.
      Read More on The Sun
      Fifa kicked Russia out of their World Cup semi-final play-off in February after Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.
      Fifa has been contacted for comment. More

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      Inside England’s shambolic World Cup hotel which is still a building site in Qatar just 30 days until kick off

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      ENGLAND’S World Cup build-up is in a heap of rubble — with the team hotel a construction site just a month before kick-off.The Sun witnessed migrant builders in overalls toiling in 35C heat to finish a swimming pool for Three Lions stars.
      A pool bar and changing room were still being hewn from bare breeze blocksCredit: Dan Charity
      The Sun witnessed migrant builders in overalls toiling in 35C heat to finish a swimming pool for Three Lions starsCredit: Dan Charity
      Outside the hotel entrance camels watched welders and workmen start turning a dusty site into a car parkCredit: Dan Charity
      A pool bar and changing room were still being hewn from bare breeze blocks.
      Outside the hotel entrance camels watched welders and workmen start turning a dusty site into a car park.
      But bosses at the Souq Al Wakra Hotel, where the Football. Association has booked all 101 rooms, insist work will be completed before Gareth Southgate’s team arrives next month.
      And hotel chiefs promised an oasis of calm between games as they showed off sumptuous seaside suites.
      READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
      General manager Emad Nabulsi said: “There is a building site now but I can guarantee everything will be finished long before the team arrives. They will be very happy.
      “The hotel is modelled on the site of a traditional fishing village and until now had an ornamental fountain but no pool.
      “But the fountain will become a beautiful pool for the players to enjoy. Work is ahead of schedule and it will be ready on time.
      “I can assure you the players will not see any workmen or building materials.”
      Most read in Football
      England team bosses selected the tranquil low-rise site — 30 minutes drive from the glitzy skyscrapers of Qatar’s capital Doha — to de-stress stars between games.
      But there was concern at the lack of a pool after players including captain Harry Kane were snapped having a splashing time with inflatable unicorns at the last World Cup in Russia in 2018.
      Fifa made an urgent request for a pool to be installed. But plans had to be drawn up to ensure it stayed in keeping with the rest of the traditional site. 
      Planning consent was obtained from the tiny Muslim state’s authorities before work began on September 25.
      Mr Nabulsi said: “The workers were given a month to complete the project but we added a five-day extension which means it will be ready by November 1. 
      Harry Kane and his World Cup England team-mates will be kicking-off in a monthCredit: Getty
      The Sun’s Nick Parker alongside the unfinished poolCredit: Dan Charity
      “It will be thoroughly tested and finished to a very high standard.”
      Pergolas which once adorned the hotel’s old fountain are being cleaned and restored to become part of the new pool area.
      The pool bar will also be rendered to match the sandy colour of the rest of the complex. 
      But it will not serve booze as the hotel is alcohol-free. England’s hotel choice contrasts sharply with rival teams including Group B opponents USA who snapped up exclusive access to the glitzy high-rise Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hotel in Doha.
      Souq Al Wakra rooms cost only about £110 a night in a modest low-key setting beside a traditional market and public beach looking out on the Arabian Gulf.
      But the Americans have bagged the most lavish retreat on Doha’s man-made island, the Pearl, where stunning suites with spa bath and a butler can cost £15,000 a night. England’s first opponents, Iran, will move into the chic but booze-free Hilton AlRayyan Hotel adjoining one of central Doha’s biggest shopping malls.
      And their other group opponents, Wales, will stay at the Delta Hotels City Centre in the bustling West Bay area and boasting five-star restaurants and bars, a spa, fitness centre and swimming pool.
      England’s hosts yesterday took The Sun on a guided tour of their stylish site — stressing that building work will not affect the rest of the spotless hotel. The complex was once an Arab fishing and pearl hunter’s village but was remodelled in 2018 into a smart boutique hotel retaining a host of homely features.
      Players will live in luxurious low-rise clusters of rooms complete with air conditioning and satellite TV and set around stone-paved courtyards.
      Boss Southgate is expected to take one of the best suites — featuring a lounge with beamed ceilings and two huge TVs.
      Framed family photos will be placed in individual rooms and beds will be adorned with towel art decorations. 
      Communal areas will be emblazoned with inspiring pictures of England’s greatest sporting victories, including the 1966 triumph.
      The hotel also features a traditional Qatari tented area, perfect for the players to gather around Southgate to talk tactics.
      Souq Al Wakra manager Zoheb Khan told The Sun: “Hotels in the centre of the city will not match our welcome or attention to detail.
      “Our aim is to create a home from home where the players will wake up to the sound of birdsong and relax fully between games. 
      “Every comfort will be offered and we are looking forward to welcoming the team. And hopefully they will be with us all the way to the final.”
      The hotel has drafted in 60 extra staff to welcome the squad.
      An England source said: “A great deal of care was taken over the choice of hotel, which looks to be a great fit for the team.
      Read More on The Sun
      “The focus on keeping the players and staff as relaxed and happy as possible between games. 
      “It paid dividends in Russia 2018 and made us real contenders — and will hopefully do the same in Qatar.”
      Bosses at the Souq Al Wakra Hotel, where the FA has booked all 101 rooms, insist work will be completed before Gareth Southgate’s team arrives next monthCredit: Getty
      No fans, just camels watching as the workers attempt to get the hotel ready for the arrival of the Three LionsCredit: Dan Charity More

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      Benjamin Mendy ‘victim’ claims she was branded fat by England star Raheem Sterling

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      AN alleged victim has told the Benjamin Mendy rape trial she was branded fat by England star Raheem Sterling.The woman said the pair clashed at a party, one of several she attended along with Premier League players.
      An alleged victim has told the Benjamin Mendy rape trial she was branded fat by England star Raheem SterlingCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia
      Asked if former Man City star Sterling called her fat, the alleged victim responded: ‘Yes’Credit: Reuters
      Asked if former Manchester City star Sterling, 27, called her fat, she responded: “Yes.”
      Her friend was said to have retaliated by calling the star, now with Chelsea, a “four-foot gnome”.
      The incident was referred to at the trial of Man City ace Mendy and his pal Louis Matturie, 41.
      The woman says she was 18 when Matturie groped her at one party.
      Read More on Benjamin Mendy
      Both Mendy, 28, and Matturie deny a string of rape and other charges.
      The trial continues at Chester crown court.
      Most read in Football More

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      Leeds boss Jesse Marsch told to stop ‘moaning’ about opposition tactics in Premier League by club legend Paul Robinson

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      PAUL ROBINSON has told under-pressure Leeds boss Jesse Marsch to stop “moaning” about opposition tactics. United have picked up just two points from their last six games and ex-Whites keeper Robinson reckons it’s “only a matter of time before noises are made” regarding Marsch’s future. 
      Jesse Marsch is ‘too open’ and will soon face pressure for his Elland Road job, according to former Leeds keeper Paul RobinsonCredit: Getty
      The American has hit out at rivals slowing the game down to disrupt Leeds’ turbo-charged style. 
      And Robinson said: “Jesse is infectious but at times he’s too open and honest. 
      “He seems to criticise other teams every week for breaking up play, slowing the game down and upsetting Leeds’ rhythm. 
      “He moans about it every game and then he’s surprised that the next opponents do the same thing!”
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Leeds are without a win since August and face a huge four days with a trip to struggling Leicester tonight before hosting Fulham on Sunday. 
      Marsch replaced Marcelo Bielsa in February and kept the west Yorkshiremen up on the final day of last season. 
      And former England stopper Robinson, 43, added: “He’s earned himself time after keeping Leeds in the Premier League but over time it will tell if it was the right decision to bring him in. 
      “Jesse did what he was brought in to do last year but it’s only going to be a matter of time before noises are made.
      Most read in Football
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      “Bournemouth and Fulham were two of the three favourites to go down but look at the way they’ve started. 
      “Leeds were also in that potential relegation group at the start of the season, and the nearer they slip towards it the more trouble they’re going to get in. 
      “He’s going to have to get results.
      “They’ve got the team and personnel to cause problem, like they did against Chelsea and Arsenal last Sunday 
      “They’ve done it at times during games but he’s struggling to get that type of performance every week against sides not in the top six.” 
      The Whites have only scored four goals in their last six games, with Patrick Bamford – returning from a host of injury problems – fluffing his lines in the last two games. 
      The striker squandered a golden chance during the 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace before missing a penalty against the Gunners. 
      Bamford, 29, needs just one more to bring up 100 league goals. 
      Read More on The Sun
      And Robinson, who played 95 Prem games for Leeds, said: “They’ve been so reliant on Patrick but he’s got a long way to go to get back to the level we know he can play at. 
      “He looks like he’s lacking that cutting edge. He’s been stuck on 99 goals since last December so is desperate to get that goal – it will be playing on his mind.” More

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      Woman ‘had sex with Jack Grealish and sexual activity with Benjamin Mendy after being raped by third man’

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      A WOMAN had sex with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish and “sexual activity” with team-mate Benjamin Mendy after she was allegedly raped by a third man, a court heard yesterday.She told police that she had been at a nightclub with the two players and Louis Saha Matturie in August last year.
      A woman had ‘sexual activity’ with Benjamin Mendy, pictured, before being raped by another man, a court heardCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia
      They all travelled to Mendy’s mansion in Prestbury, Cheshire, for an afterparty.
      The woman said she was raped by Matturie after he offered to take her to buy some vodka from a nearby shop.
      She told officers that after arriving back at Mendy’s home, she had spent “hours sitting on the sofa in the living room” chatting with two girls and one of Grealish’s friends.
      At Chester crown court, she was asked by Mr Matturie’s barrister, Lisa Wilding KC: “Did you have sex with Jack Grealish?”
      READ MORE ON THE TRIAL
      She said: “Yeah.”
      “Do you have a memory of that?” the KC asked.
      She said: “I don’t know what room it was in.
      “I am sure we had sex.”
      Most read in The Sun
      She also admitted she later got into bed with Mendy and they engaged in sexual activity but did not have sex, which the court heard she did not tell police about originally.
      Mendy, 28, denies seven counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault — all relating to six women.
      Matturie, 41, of Eccles, Salford, denies six counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault allegations relating to seven women.
      Trial continues.
      Read More on The Sun More

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      Pilar Rubio wows in sky blue bikini after revealing she has sex with her PSG ace husband Sergio Ramos ‘every day’

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      MODEL Pilar Rubio has admitted her footie ace husband Sergio Ramos scores with her every day.The TV host, 44, told a chat show in her native Spain: “We do it every day, except for the days when I am in Madrid.
      Pilar Rubio said she has sex with footie ace husband Sergio Ramos every day
      Rubio said: ‘We do it every day, except for the days when I am in Madrid’Credit: Alamy Live News
      “Today for instance, thanks to you, I can’t.
      “My children are in bed at 9.30pm. Sex is life.”
      Mum-of-four Pilar, in a sky-blue bikini for swimwear brand Selmark, divides her time between Madrid and Paris where defender Ramos, 36, plays for PSG.
      Rubio was told by the shocked host of chat show La Resistencia they were like Avengers superheroes having sex so often with four youngsters in the house.
      Read More on Pilar Rubio
      Most read in Football
      She insisted the fact they had four kids had no impact on their sex life.
      Rubio tried to turn the tables by asking host David Broncano about how often he did it – but was told he had no children so there was no comparison.
      In her tell-all interview, Rubio – who has commuted between Paris and Madrid since Ramos joined PSG last year – also claimed she had just £46,000 in the bank.
      Pilar Rubio stuns in this revealing swimsuitCredit: Splash
      Rubio shows off her curves in this bikiniCredit: Instagram
      Mum-of-four Pilar divides her time between Madrid and Paris where defender Ramos plays for PSGCredit: Getty More

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      I’m a WAG and World Cup veteran – I know exactly how England’s other halves can deal with Qatar’s ruinous rules

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      I’M usually a firm believer that rules are made to be broken.But the strict list of World Cup dos and don’ts issued by England chiefs to this year’s Wags are not to be trifled with.
      Lizzie Cundy at the 2010 World Cup in South AfricaCredit: Paul Edwards – The Sun
      The likes of Sasha Attwood, Jack Grealish’s girlfriend, should be looking forward to the World Cup and all the glitz and glamour that comes with itCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Our girls have been warned that if they put a stiletto-clad foot wrong in strict Qatar, they could end up in prison.
      My heart goes out to them, because they’ve been issued with a manifesto for party poopery.
      No booze, no skimpy outfits, no PDAs, no singing in public and even no selfies, at least not outside official buildings.
      The Wags simply won’t know what to do with themselves.
      READ MORE ON QATAR
      The likes of Sasha Attwood, Jack Grealish’s girlfriend, and her fellow England Wags should be looking forward to the World Cup and all the glitz and glamour that comes with it.
      Instead, they’ll be worrying that they could get in trouble for doing perfectly normal things.
      I’ve been lucky enough to go to two World Cups, Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010, and it might sound silly, but I’m not exaggerating when I say the Wags play a huge part in creating the special atmosphere.
      In South Africa I was treated like a superstar. I can hardly tell you what it was like there.
      Most read in The Sun
      I kept thinking, ‘Have they got me mixed up with someone?’.
      The World Cup is meant to be an international party, and we were there to support our boys in the best way we knew how.
      But with the risk of a crisis in Qatar if anyone has too much fun, I think those golden days have come to an end.
      This year’s Wags have been told that public displays of affection, including kissing, will not be tolerated.
      Double whammy
      That’s going to be tough. I remember watching my ex-husband Jason Cundy play for Chelsea and Tottenham, and when you’re watching a game, especially when they score, you leap up and hug.
      You can’t help it, it’s instinct, you do it — these girls want to support their partner and they want to show affection. They want to show passion.
      And if you’re on holiday with your partner, you are just openly affectionate without even thinking.
      In fact, we’ve seen a few of the players be affectionate with the wrong person, so it’s a double whammy to the loyal partners. Then there’s the rules around wardrobe choices.
      Wags love dressing up and are fully aware that when their partner scores a goal, all the cameras are straight on them.
      We’ve seen a few of the players be affectionate with the wrong person, so it’s a double whammy to the loyal partners.
      They want to look the bee’s knees — clothes are their life and they’ll obviously have got all their outfits ready for the matches. And for the girls to dress modestly? They haven’t got that in their vocab.
      What is modest anyway? I know I’ve been out before and someone has said, ‘Ooh, that’s a bit racy’, and I’m like, ‘Gosh, this is nothing’.
      Will they have to have their skirts below the knee? Will their shoulders be covered? And it’s going to be very hot — are you allowed to go out in a vest top?
      They could get in trouble unless they’ve got a warden or someone there checking them from head to toe with a measuring tape saying, ‘No, that skirt’s too short’.
      For girls used to rightly making their own choices about their own bodies, this will feel so wrong.
      We all know the Wags love a good selfie, as we all do — and Qatar is a beautiful place — so taking a selfie is something these girls will do without even thinking.
      They’ll want to put pictures out there — they’re at the World Cup, it’s the pinnacle of their partners’ careers — but taking a selfie in front of a government building is against the law.
      A World Cup without Wags would be a sad sight
      And we’re not just talking about a slap on the wrist here, this is serious stuff. It can lead to imprisonment, as well as fines.
      Drinking in public, that’s another thing. What if they win and England go through? Are you saying they can’t celebrate with a drink?
      They’re also not allowed to sing — so I can’t imagine how deathly dull the stadiums will sound.
      Like many others, when I watch a football match, I get taken over by someone else and find myself singing my heart out until my throat is hoarse. It’s in you and you can’t stop it.
      All of these rules are going to be broken, probably by accident — and we could see one of our girls actually being put in prison. Footballers’ wives get a really bad rap of being nothing but bimbos who love to shop and get their nails done and are just after the money.
      But they’re not. A lot of them are intelligent women who have careers in their own right. They’re not used to being told what to do. They are strong, independent women who set their own rules.
      f I were them, I’d make a stand against these regressive regulations and say, ‘We’re not going to go’. A World Cup without Wags would be a sad sight.
      But after all the support they’ve given their partners, the Wags should expect to have their support in taking a stand, too.

      Lizzie’s 8 best Wag moments
      Like The Beatles
      Victoria , left, and Coleen, centre, are joined by a pal, Michael Owen’s wife Louise, second right, and Frank Lampard’s then fiancée Elen Rivas, right, in Baden-BadenCredit: Associated Newspapers
      I WILL never forget that first moment of seeing the Wags walking together in a line in Baden-Baden during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
      It was like The Beatles had come to town when Victoria Beckham, Coleen Rooney and the gang stepped out.
      Everyone was like, “Wow. Who are they? What are they wearing?”.
      They were everywhere and it was like nothing anyone had seen before. It was a time when the girls were really more popular than the players.
      And England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson loved it, because the attention wasn’t on the boys.
      They sold more magazines than if you had Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie on the front. I don’t think we’ll ever be seeing anything like that again.
      War of the sunglasses
      You had this hierarchy, with Victoria Beckham, at the top and then Cheryl ColeCredit: Alamy
      IT was great seeing the girls watching the games and looking at how big their sunglasses were in 2006.
      You had this hierarchy, with Victoria Beckham, at the top and then Cheryl Cole, because we knew them from the Spice Girls and Girl Aloud.
      Then we had Coleen Rooney, who was new on the block, but you could see she had real star quality.
      It was so fun to see the top girls angling for the best seat, and getting that money shot when their partner scores. Cameras went straight on to them, with their hair immaculate, huge sunglasses and lots of lip gloss. They looked like stars.
      Meeting Mandela
      That’s when I knew the England Wags had actually gone globalCredit: Reuters
      WHEN I met Nelson Mandela at the 2010 World Cup, the former South Africa leader’s first words to me were: “Where are the Wags?”
      That’s when I knew the England Wags had actually gone global. It was something else.
      The new generation
      Rebekah Vardy led the squad of Wags in Russia in 2018Credit: AP:Associated Press
      At the last World Cup in Russia, in 2018, we saw Rebekah Vardy, leading the squad of Wags, all dressed up to the nines, as they hit the town.
      Unfortunately, Rebekah’s caused quite a stir since then – and I can’t imagine her at the helm of a similar outing now.
      Staying next door to Prince Harry
      Princes William and Harry watch the 2010 World CupCredit: Reuters
      I WAS staying in the Sun City resort in South Africa, but my friend moved me to another hotel, the Saxton, much to my annoyance.
      However, when I got there, I got the only room left, which was next to Prince Harry, on the top floor with a view.
      I was like, “This is my kind of place!”. At the same hotel I gatecrashed the fanciest cocktail party, with David Beckham, Prince Harry and Prince William.
      Prince Harry’s PR took a look at me and went, “What the hell are you doing here?”, and I was like, “There’s no party without the Cundy – I’m here!”.
      Their faces went pale when they saw me walk in.

      Champagne through straws
      ENGLAND may not have won the World Cup in 2006 but we definitely took the prize for partying.
      Steven Gerrard’s wife Alex Curran was said to have led the karaoke while drinking magnums of champagne through straws with other Wags at nightclub Garibaldi’s. There were also reports of dancing on tables and huge bar bills.
      Queen of the Wags
      Nancy Dell’Olio dated Sven-Goran ErikssonCredit: BBC
      WHEN I was working for ITV as the Wags correspondent in 2006, I was asked to interview the “Queen of the Wags”.
      I was like, “Who is that?”. Then I get a call from Nancy Dell’Olio, who dated Sven, joking: “Darling, I’m married to the boss. I’m Queen of the Wags!”
      Party bus
      Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan Davidson headed to Wembley for the Euro semi-finals last year on a party busCredit: Instagram
      Read More on The Sun
      WE know that, given a chance, today’s Wags would be up for a party.Goalie Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan Davidson headed to Wembley for the Euro semi-finals last year on a party bus decked out in England flags and balloons.
      It came after England’s first game of the Euros, when Megan donned personalised football shirts and tiny denim shorts, along with Kieran Trippier’s wife Charlotte, Harry Maguire’s fiancée Fern Hawkins, Luke Shaw’s girlfriend Anouska Santos and Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner. More