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      Why does Wales have a red dragon on the flag?

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      THE Welsh flag has become a symbol of national pride for the country, with it’s dragon appearing all over Wales.Rob Page’s side have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in over 60 years, with supporters desperate to see the likes of Gareth Bale in action in Qatar.
      Rob Page has led Wales to their first World Cup since 1958Credit: Getty
      Wales captain Gareth Bale scored two goals in the play-off semi-final against AustriaCredit: Reuters
      They are up against fierce rivals England in group B, with the big showdown scheduled for November 29.
      The players will wear a red dragon on their shirt and the reason behind it is very interesting.
      Where does the Welsh dragon originate from?
      The red dragon originates from an ancient Welsh legend involving a Celtic king named Vortigern.
      After finding a place to build his castle on the hills of Dinas Emrys, Vortigen was warned that his plans for the castle were directly above an underground lake, where two dragons were sleeping.

      Upon starting the building, Vortigen came across two dragons, one red, and one white.
      After a fierce battle, the red dragon won and has gone on to represent a symbol of Welsh pride and independence.
      A later excavation in 1945 found castle ruins and evidence of a lake dating back to Vortigen’s time. Perhaps, dragons aren’t just a myth after all.
      Why does Wales have a red dragon on the flag?
      The red dragon was depicted in various battles by British soldiers on their way to Rome in the fourth century.
      Welsh kings later adopted the emblem to show their authority and power.
      Ivor Allchurch wears the red dragon on his chest in 1957Credit: Hulton Archive – Getty
      Wales last played at the World Cup in 1958 where Pele’s goal for Brazil knocked them outCredit: AFP – Getty

      The country’s first official use of the flag is thought to be during the thirteenth century, during the Battle of Bosworth Field in England.
      Today, the dragon is a symbol of national pride and fearlessness, with the Welsh football team hoping to match it’s meaning at this year’s Qatar World Cup.
      Whereas the Welsh rugby team use the Prince of Wales’ feathers as their logo, the football team have adopted the red dragon for the last century and happily make it their monkier.
      Wales’ national anthem is also one of the most famous in the world and will be belted out at the World Cup for the first time since 1958.
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      Ex-Man Utd star Javier Hernandez SNUBBED from Mexico’s World Cup 2022 squad but injured Raul Jimenez included

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      EX-MANCHESTER UNITED star Javier Hernandez has been left out of Mexico’s World Cup squad.The striker is going strong at 34-years-old, currently playing in America, and is still one of the more high-profile names among the country’s footballers.
      Javier Hernandez is a surprise exclusion from Mexico’s World Cup squadCredit: Getty

      But Gerardo Martino has left the frontman out of his squad – and even opted for Wolves’ Raul Jimenez, who has been out for much of the club season due to injury.
      Mexico’s tournament in Qatar kicks off in a little over a week as they look to get through a tricky group containing the likes of Poland and Argentina.
      But Hernandez, who burst onto the scene in the 2010 World Cup, will not be among the stars.
      Martino’s frontline is instead made up by the likes of the injured Jimenez, Napoli hotshot Hirving Lozano and Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez.
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      Hernandez’s exclusion is all the more surprising given his form in the MLS, where he scored 18 goals for LA Galaxy and helped them finish fourth in the Western Conference.
      His new girlfriend Nicole McPherson will now miss the chance to cheer on the star, with the pair having to settle instead for watching the TV coverage from the sofa.
      Hernandez would have been one of the few faces from the Mexico squad instantly recognisable to Premier League fans, with Chicharito spending five years at Man United before two years at West Ham.
      Mexico’s tournament begins on Tuesday November 2022 when they face Poland.
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      Four days later they have a difficult tussle with Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
      And then they finish their group stage with a game against Saudi Arabia. More

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      Inside budget ‘Floating Palace’ cruise ship that England fans can hire for £160 a night during Qatar World Cup

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      ENGLAND fans are being offered the chance to stay on a luxury cruise ship with a £160-a-night price tag for a private cabin while they watch the Three Lions in Qatar.With around 1.2million people set to descend on the tiny oil-rich country, finding an affordable and decent place to stay has been challenge.
      The MSC Poesia can accommodate 3,000 fans on boardCredit: Reuters
      One of the rooms England supporters can rent outCredit: MSC Poesia
      The ship boasts several swimming pools
      The luxury interior of the the huge shipCredit: MSC Poesia
      The ship has several restaurants and bars on boardCredit: MSC Poesia
      At one end there’s £23,000-a-night luxury hotel suites while less fussy fans on tighter budgets can pay a bargain £75 to bunk in shared rooms.
      Sailing to the rescue of fans who want somewhere they can stay without breaking the bank is the MSC Poesia, a floating luxury hotel with 1,265 cabins.
      The huge vessel comes with seven swimming pools, 13 whirlpools and a luxurious yacht club.
      As well as somewhere to stay, the ship is also a way to dodge Qatar’s strict laws on booze which include a zero-tolerance policy for drinking or appearing drunk in public.
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      There are seven bars on board to cater for thirsty fans celebrating England’s wins and a nightclub to kick on for after-hours fun.
      The five restaurants include French and Italian eateries as well as a Sushi.
      In total around 3,000 fans will be able to stay on the 92,600-ton ship in a variety of cabins.
      Reports say the cheapest cabins can cost as little as £160 a night, while others put price of the the most budget-friendly private rooms at £290.
      These range from traditional cabins overlooking the sea to rooms with balconies and luxury suites.
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      All cabins have one double bed convertible to two single beds.
      Along with MSC World Europa, the MSC Poesia is one of two cruise liners that will be hosting fans during the global showpiece event.
      Around 40,000 supporters are expected to be staying on ships after Qatar chartered the two boats from MSC Cruises.
      For fans with deeper pockets, one third-party site is listing hotel rooms for a whopping £4,000-a-night, according to moneycontrol.
      Or, if money is just an object, a third-party is flogging a “head of state” suite for a mind-boggling £23,000 a-night – with a 30-night minimum stay.
      Others have been hiring £20,000 a night superyachts complete with helipads and Michelin-star chefs for the World Cup.
      The England team’s manager Gareth Southgate picked the five-star Souq Al-Wakra hotel as their base for the tournament.
      England’s top Wags will want for nothing on the incredible £1billion MSC World Europa, where a glamorous fleet will stay to cheer on our Three Lions during the Qatar World Cup.
      The 1,093 ft floating hotel — dubbed HMS Wag — was christened in a glittering ceremony in Qatar over the weekend as it prepared to welcome its VIP guests at capital city Doha.
      Official fan villages that have been set up for the tournament, with some more appealing than others.
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      One option costs almost £200-a-night, but the “cabins” are more like glorified shipping containers.
      Billed as an official fan village, the tiny cabins can fit up to two guests inside at a time, and are close to Lusail Stadium, where the final will be held.
      Fans can opt to sleep in style in luxury hotelsCredit: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
      Fan villages have been put up out in the desertCredit: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
      One fan village is made up of rows and rows of white tentsCredit: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 More

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      Brazil are a better team with more prolific Richarlison leading the line instead of Arsenal’s in-form Gabriel Jesus

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      ONE of the problems of World Cup punditry, especially when it concerns countries with a strong Premier League contingent, is that people know the players, but not the teams.They have not followed the process by which the side has been constructed.
      Richarlison leads the line for Brazil on merit ahead of Gabriel JesusCredit: Getty
      This is especially true in the case of Brazil, where 12 of coach Tite’s squad play in England.
      The team have clearly benefited from having the same coach in charge for a full cycle – Tite has been in charge for more than six years, and ever since Russia 2018 he has been painstakingly building a team that go to Qatar as justified World Cup favourites. 
      But the questions that are frequently asked in England show, understandably enough, that people have been following the players in the Premier League, but are unaware of how things have been going in the national team.
      For example – how does Richarlison get in the team ahead of Gabriel Jesus?
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      This is an easy answer. The last competitive goal that Gabriel Jesus scored for Brazil came almost three and a half years ago. In twenty matches, starting most of them, he has been on target once – in stoppage time of a friendly that was already won.
      Richarlison, meanwhile, has seven goals in the last six games, a run of form which has changed the way that Brazil set up their side.
      A few months ago it was likely that Brazil would go to the World Cup without a centre forward, with two wingers and Neymar as a false nine.  Richarlison has forced a change.
      The coaching staff now agree that the team functions better with a penalty area specialist and Richarlison, uncomplicated and obsessed with the goal at the expense of everything else, is their man.
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      How on earth does Fred get in the team? This is a frequent question asked by those who have not seen Brazil. The little midfielder has been in fine form for his country, balancing out the side and making things easier for his team-mates.
      Brazil’s coaching staff feel that Manchester United have not used him well, that they should take more advantage of his lung power, freeing him to run forward rather than restricting him to covering duties.
      Is the place of Lucas Paqueta at risk?  Providing the West Ham man is fit, not at all.  Paqueta is vital to the team for two reasons. Firstly, on the pitch he is on the same wavelength as Neymar.
      Good teams are made of little partnerships, and the link up between Neymar and Paqueta has been one of the best things about Brazil over the last couple of years.
      But also, his versatility makes him a coach’s dream. There have been matches where Paqueta has carried out three different functions in the course of 90 minutes.
      Brazil have three different formations – little tweaks on an overall idea of play.
      The moving piece is Paqueta, who lines up either as an orthodox attacking midfielder, or as a withdrawn left winger in place of Vinicius Junior, or as a deeper central midfielder instead of Fred. And he can also fill in at centre forward.
      Gabriel Jesus may have to settle for a place on the benchCredit: Getty
      Versatlie Lucas Paqueta can play in a number of positions, if Brazil change tacticsCredit: Getty
      Of course, all of these certainties could crumble in the course of the World Cup. The tournament is the result of a process – but it is also like time speeded up, where teams can come together or suddenly fall apart.
      And something that Tite learned in the last World Cup is that if something is not working, then it should be changed quickly.
      In the build up to Russia 2018 Gabriel Jesus appeared to have solved Brazil’s centre forward problem. Come the competition he lost his form and confidence, and in hindsight Tite felt that he should have been dropped.
      But now the Arsenal striker is older and wiser. It could be his moment.
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      True, he is unlikely to be in the starting line up against Serbia on November 24th.
      Perhaps during the course of the competition his time will come. But for the time being, Richarlison is there on merit. More

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      World Cup 2022 Sweepstake Kit: Everything you need to create your sweepstake with friends, family and colleagues

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      WORLD CUP 2022 is nearly here so it’s time to organise your sweepstake competition.The tournament kicks off in Qatar this coming Sunday and this is the perfect way to enjoy the competition even more.

      Compete against your mates, family and colleagues by creating your very own Sweepstake for fun.
      Pick a team at random and then keep your fingers crossed they go all the way.
      We’ve included the latest odds along with the team name so you can see what your chances of success are.
      So fingers crossed for Argentina rather than Australia!
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      Other top teams include England, Brazil, France, Spain and Germany.
      Ones to avoid are hosts Qatar and the biggest outsiders of all – Saudi Arabia.
      HOW TO PLAY
      Download and print The Sun’s World Cup Sweepstake Kit by CLICKING HERE.
      Cut out all 32 teams.
      Get whoever you’re playing with to then draw their team from a hat.
      If playing with 32 friends/family/colleagues – then pick one team each. If playing with 16, then two teams each, if eight people then four teams each etc.
      Then sit back and see how the action unfolds – with whoever has the winning team in the final on December 18 winning the Sweepstake competition.
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      You could create your own prizes for the winner – and potentially have smaller prizes for whoever has the beaten finalist and those who make it to the semi-finals.
      Have fun! More

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      Aaron Ramsey shows off shock new look after dying hair blonde ahead of Wales’ World Cup 2022 campaign

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      AARON RAMSEY has shown off his shock new look after dying his hair BLONDE ahead of Wales’ second-ever World Cup campaign.The last time Wales competed in a World Cup was all the way back in 1958.
      Ramsey has died his hair blonde for the World CupCredit: Instagram / FA Wales
      The ex-Arsenal ace had it at Euro 2016, where Wales reached the semi-finalsCredit: Instagram / FA Wales
      Gareth Bale, Ramsey and Co fended off a World Cup play-off challenge from Ukraine to book their place in Qatar.
      The Dragons were then placed in Group B alongside England, the USA and Iran.
      And Ramsey is pulling out all the stops ahead of the winter tournament, changing his hairstyle.
      The ex-Arsenal and Juventus ace, now of Nice, has gone blonde like he did at Euro 2016.
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      Wales posted pics of Rambo smiling in training with the caption: “We know what this means.”
      Of course, what Wales are referring to is Ramsey’s red-hot form at Euro 2016 held in France where they reached the semi-finals.
      Ramsey was one of Wales’ most influential players in that run, netting one goal and four assists.
      Wales lost the semi-final tie to eventual winners Portugal 2-0.

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      Fans are loving the new hair with one commenting: “10/10 tournament incoming?”
      Another said: “We’re all gonna have to do it aren’t we…”
      Wales play their World Cup group opener against the USA on November 21.
      Players going blonde for the World Cup is nothing new.
      Many players have done it over the years, but perhaps most famously was when the ENTIRE Romania team bleached their locks in 1998.
      The entire Romania team went blonde at the 1998 France World CupCredit: Getty More

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      Is there a standby list for 2022 World Cup squads, and can players be replaced when the tournament starts?

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      INJURIES are a concern for any player, but rarely more so than when a World Cup is around the corner.All players hoping to be involved at Qatar have been treading carefully in their final club matches, knowing that an injury would rule them out of action at the World Cup.
      Ben Chilwell won’t feature for England after picking up a hamstring injury in stoppage time against Dinamo ZagrebCredit: Reuters
      Neymar sustained an injury in the 2014 World Cup which ruled him out of the tournamentCredit: Reuters
      We have already seen injuries to Chelsea’s Reece James and Ben Chilwell in recent weeks, preventing them from representing England.
      And it would be no surprise to see more players go the same way, even once the tournament has begun.
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      Is there a standby list for World Cup squads?
      Luckily, Fifa have ruled that teams can replace players who are unable to play due to injury or COVID-19 24 hours prior to their first match.
      This allows all nations to take fully-fit squads to the competition, preventing late injuries from hindering managers’ plans.
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      Can teams replace injured players after the World cup has started?
      Currently, players who are injured during the tournament cannot be replaced by another player once the tournament has begun.
      However, the increased 26-man squad size is thought to cater for such events.
      Previous tournaments have only allowed 23 players to take part.

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      How did France win the 2018 World Cup? Les Bleus road to glory

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      LIFTING the World Cup trophy is an achievement most countries can only dream of, but European giants France have done it twice, most recently in 2018.Didier Deschamps men shone bright in Russia, overcoming everything thrown at them, proving that they knew how to win ugly when required.
      France had to wait 20 years to win their second World cupCredit: PA
      Kylian Mbappe scored four goals across the tournamentCredit: PA
      It was a summer that saw Kylian Mbappe announce himself on the international stage, tearing apart defences with his blistering pace.
      SunSport have been taking a look at how Les Bleus got their hands on the trophy.
      Group stage: France 2-1 Australia
      France’s first test of the tournament came against Australia, who pushed them to the very last minute. Paul Pogba’s late deflected strike and Antoine Griezmann’s goal from the penalty spot was enough to steal all three points in Kazan.
      Group stage: France 1-0 Peru
      Next up was South American side Peru. Kylian Mbappe scored the only goal of the game, booking his side’s place in the knockout rounds after a cagey 90 minutes.

      Group stage: Denmark 0-0 France
      France’s final group stage encounter was against Denmark. The rather uneventful game finished goalless, with Didier Deschamps side topping their group, scoring only three goals along the way.
      Last-16: France 4-3 Argentina
      We saw a different side to France in the round of 16.
      In one of the most thrilling ever World Cup matches, Les Bleus showed character to come back from behind against Argentina and win 4-3 thanks to a five-minute brace from Mbappe.
      France knocked out Lionel Messi’s Argentina in one of the all-time great World Cup matchesCredit: AP
      Quarter-final: Uruguay 0-2 France
      After the drama of the round of 16, France produced a calmer display against Uruguay in the quarter finals, winning 2-0 courtesy of goals from Raphael Varane and Griezmann.
      Semi-final: France 1-0 Belgium
      Before they knew it, the semi-finals were upon them, and an in-form Belgium lay in waiting.
      A close encounter finished 1-0 after Samuel Umtiti nodded Griezmann’s cross home on the 50 minute mark, sending France to the final.
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      Final: France 4-2 Croatia
      Croatia, who had surpassed all expectations, beating England 2-1 in the semi-finals were the only thing that stood in the way of World Cup glory.
      The match was an exciting spectacle, with France reeling away 4-2 winners. The 90 minutes brought the joint highest goal tally in a final since 1958.

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