World Cup

ENGLAND’S World Cup heroes have been taking a well-deserved rest after beating Wales 3-0 to top the group. The Three Lions are set to face Senegal in the World Cup round of 16 on Sunday, but before then they are taking the opportunity to relax and take in some sun before getting back to work.
Harry Maguire showed off some of the team’s recoveryCredit: Instagram
Declan Rice and Callum Wilson appeared to be in good spiritsCredit: Instagram
Jack Grealish showed off the luxurious pool the team hasCredit: Instagram @jackgrealish
His post even captured Jordan Pickford lazing around on the poolCredit: Instagram @jackgrealish
Conor Coady enjoyed a day out in Doha with wife Amie
Members of the squad posted pics to their Instagram stories.
Defender Harry Maguire posted a picture by the pool with the caption: “Recovery Day,” and paired the text with a trio of emojis.
Declan Rice captured a snap with himself and Newcastle forward Callum Wilson.
Rice donned a backwards cap and a beaming smile as he captioned the image of the pair: “Recovery settings.”
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Jack Grealish added his own lazy day post.
The Man City midfielder shared a pic of him relaxing by the pool, which he captioned: “Recovery.”
Grealish and Co were full of smiles as they hugged their Wags after the 3-0 win over Wales.
The win, courtesy of goals from Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden, allowed England to top the group.
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Had England finished second then a tie against Holland would have been in order, but instead Afcon champs Senegal are the team Gareth Southgate must mastermind a plan to beat next.
Senegal fans were ecstatic after edging out Ecuador to progress into the knockout rounds.
Fan footage captured jubilant scenes from the nations capital Dakar as the final whistle went.
England celebrate after Marcus Rashford opened the scoring against WalesCredit: Getty More

TWO England fans at the World Cup have revealed how the son of a Qatari Sheikh asked them if he wanted to see his lion before driving them back to his palace in a Lamborghini.Alex and his father Tommy Sullivan were in a supermarket close to their accommodation looking for food and beer when they bumped into the multi-millionaire Sheikh who invited them for a tour of his mansion.
England fans Alex and Tommy Sullivan on ITV’s This MorningCredit: itv
His story went viral after he shared a video of him playing with a lion cub at the palaceCredit: SnapChat
Alex said they played FIFA and pool with the Sheikh’s son in his ‘man cave’Credit: SnapChat
The pair appeared on ITV’s This Morning where they recounted their incredible World Cup adventure to Holly and Phil.
Alex said that after the two men, who he named as two of the Qatari Sheikh’s sons Nawaf and Abdul-Aziz, admired their tops with the England Three Lions’ crest, they invited them to get in their car and see his private zoo, where he had his own lion.
They zoomed through the streets of Doha in his Lamborghini, listening to the 1980 early hip-hop classic “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang.
At the enormous palace, he said the Sheikh made them coffee and they played FIFA and pool while chatting with the mega-rich heir.
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And they have since had the chance to meet up with the pair again when they went out to eat.
Their unbelievable story first went viral after they spoke to talkSPORT in one of the fan zones in Qatar.
But after some cast doubt over their claims, Alex shared remarkable videos from their night out as proof of their exploits.
In the videos originally posted on Alex’s Snapchat, he can be seen playing with a lion cub while his father and a friend chat to the Sheikh and his entourage.
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On Wednesday morning, they revealed exactly how the night unfolded.

Both were wearing similar tops with the England badge alongside that of their beloved Everton that they were wearing on the night they met the Sheikh.
Tommy told Holly and Phil: “He said, ‘I love your top, three lions. I have a lion.'”
Alex went on: “We got in his car, you would have loved it, Holly, he put ‘Rapper’s Delight’ on. We were dancing all night to the palace.”
He admitted they were “apprehensive at first” about getting in a stranger’s car, but were “on such a buzz” after their first day in Qatar that they squashed their fears.
He took us round to what looked like a man cave sort of thing. That’s when they made us coffees, we played FIFA, we played pool, we just had great conversationsAlex SullivanEngland fan in Qatar
They then arrived at the enormous complex, which Alex said was the size of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, plus its car park.
Inside were football pitches, paddle courts, and multiple properties, one of which was the Sheikh’s “man cave”.
Alex said: “He took us round to what looked like a man cave sort of thing. That’s when they made us coffees, we played FIFA, we played pool, we just had great conversations.
“They became our friends.”
He acknowledged they had received some backlash after Alex was filmed playing with a captive lion cub at the Sheikh’s private zoo.
“We had a little bit of backlash from people who don’t approve, I thought that as well, but you see the size of this zoo, there are workers looking after them, they get fed every day, the lions are getting whisked round in Lamborghinis,” he said.
“All I’m doing is I’m just reporting what I’m seeing.”
He said that the videos were only meant to be seen by his close friends and that he had a panic once they went viral and the identities of their two Qatari pals were released.
But he said they had since met up with the pair, and they were perfectly happy with the footage being shared around the world.
“We went back to the restaurant, we had something to eat with them, and that’s when they said ‘It’s absolutely fine, you’ve done a great job showing our hospitality,'” he said.
And he also claimed they had been blown away by how they had been received by all of the Qataris they had met.
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“It’s been absolutely fantastic, every prejudice has been destroyed, no matter who you speak to, whether it’s the highest-ranking family or the workers who are so lovely as well,” he said.
“Everyone’s so hospitable and so friendly and kind, we’re really enjoying our time here and we’ve got another few weeks here.”
They also went for a spin in the Sheikh’s LamborghiniCredit: Snapchat/AlexSul
Many couldn’t believe what they were seeingCredit: Snapchat/AlexSul
Alex said the Sheikh’s lions are driven around in LamborghinisCredit: snapchat/alexsul
The pair have been sharing pictures and videos from their adventures in QatarCredit: Twitter
They spoke to Holly and Phil on This Morning about their wild nightCredit: ITV
The pair claim they have been welcomed by everyone in QatarCredit: itv More

A DIEHARD Wales fan flew to Qatar to watch England take on his team in the World Cup – without telling his girlfriend. David ‘Dai’ Jones’ other half had warned him she would pack her bags if he went, but the dad-of-two still jumped on a plane to Doha.
David ‘Dai’ Jones ignored his girlfriend’s protests and headed to Qatar to catch the gameCredit: PA
The diehard Wales fan said he simply couldn’t miss the game after seeing his pals partyingCredit: PA
The footie-mad Welshman, 33, headed on his spur-of-the-moment trip after seeing his best pals partying at the tournament from their base in Dubai.
His fear of missing out saw him embark on a hellish 24-hour journey on Monday after his friends helped him secure a ticket and visa.
David, from Pontypridd in South Wales, brushed off the ultimatum delivered by his girlfriend of 11 years and simply turned his phone off.
He was desperate to watch his team take on the Three Lions – despite them suffering an almighty thrashing by Gareth Southgate’s men.
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The spontaneous supporter was forced to sleep in Hamad International Airport after arriving with no accommodation booked.
But he roused from his awkward slumber and headed straight to a pre-match party being held by Wales supporters at the Intercontinental the City hotel.
David explained: “I didn’t have a ticket to come out originally because my girlfriend said I couldn’t afford it – she still thinks I can’t afford it now.
“She said if you go that’s it, but I said if I didn’t go I’d never forgive her.
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“I saw my friends having the time of their lives in Dubai and going to the first two matches and I just thought I have to be there.
“It’s Wales’ first World Cup in 64 years – and that’s it.
“The three of us have been following Wales away for years and we’re the ‘three amigos’, and now the band is back together.”
The electrician continued: “I did everything but gain her acceptance to go.
“And I thought she might get over it in time, but I never would, so I made the decision to come.
“She rang my dad because my phone was off and he told her I’d be home in a few days.”
His best mates James Lewis, 32, and Jamie Shipp, 31, helped him arrange the mammoth 24-hour journey that saw him first take an overnight coach from Cardiff to Heathrow.
He then had to quickly catch another bus to Stansted before boarding a plane to Turkey to catch a connecting flight to Doha.
I thought she might get over it in time, but I never would, so I made the decision to come.David ‘Dai’ Jones
Pal Lewis, also from Pontypridd, said: “We came out here and then he was saying all week that he wanted to be out here with us.
“It feels amazing to have him here, I’ve known him since we were small and we’ve always travelled to watch Wales together.”
Jamie added: “He’s mad, but he’s the best. I do feel sorry for his girlfriend though.”
The trio beamed in snaps as they donned the iconic colourful bucket hats in support of their team.
But David was then forced to race against the clock after watching Wales get blown away by three quickfire goals – as his boss was also on his back about the impromptu trip.
The dad had to rush back to the airport and board a plane home just after 4am after being warned he would be sacked if he is not back in work on Thursday.
Wales fans were left disappointed after The Dragons crashed out of the World Cup after failing to bag a 4-0 win.
The USA sailed through to the next round alongside England from Group B after beating Iran 1-0.
A whopping 8,000 Three Lions fans watched the game live in Qatar alongside 6,000 from Wales.
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England have not lost to Wales since 1984 and are unbeaten in the last six meetings between the two nations.
They last came head-to-head in an official tournament at Euro 2016 when the Three Lions beat the Dragons 2-1.
Pals James and Jamie teamed up with David to get the dad-of-two across the world in timeCredit: PA
His partner warned him she would ditch him if he headed to QatarCredit: PA More

ANDRIES NOPPERT says he is proof that you should never give up on your dreams.The 28-year-old journeyman goalkeeper, who has had an injury plagued career with less than 50 senior appearances, was a shock late call-up to Louis van Gaal’s Holland squad based on his performances for Heerenveen this season.
Andries Noppert has enjoyed a steep rise to become Holland’s first choice keeperCredit: Getty
He has started all three of Holland’s World Cup games so farCredit: Getty
Not just a shock call up to the squad, but he actually made his international debut in the Oranje’s very first match out here in Qatar – a 2-0 victory over Senegal – and has kept his place.
Now, after Van Gaal’s side marched into the next phase of the tournament as Group A winners, he is continuing to pinch himself that this is all actually real.
Noppert said: “For me the dream, when you see my career, was already gone but it came true.
“I never thought about this happening. Its a big compliment to come in the squad and then to play at the highest level in the world. It was a surprise for sure.
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“But there is only one mister in Holland who can make this decision and that is this coach.
“I actually found out I was in the squad when I was watching the television and my name came up.”
Noppert says the fact that all this was so unexpected, makes it all the more special.
He said: “Of course this is the dream – when you are a small guy, you dream about this.
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“So this makes it more special for me because, when you see my history, this is proof of what you can achieve when you keep on fighting.
“This is something that children have to believe in themselves, that everything is always possible.”
Noppert has had a tough time battling back from injuries to keep any hopes he might have harboured of one day playing for the national team alive.
He said: “I got injuries and had to come back again and again, four times.
“You keep being told you can do it again if you think in your head you can.
“So I said ‘yes for sure why not’ and if it doesn’t work it doesn’t work, but I believed that it would work and look where I am now and for me this is the most special thing.
“My family are so happy and proud – I know they are always and they follow me always and everywhere so I am proud.
“They were at the game against Ecuador – that was not our best, but it doesn’t matter, we are first in the group.”
That Ecuador draw was sandwiched between a 2-0 win over Senegal and victory by the same margin against Qatar on Tuesday.
Holland now face the USA in a last 16 knockout tie on Saturday.
Noppert believes Holland can go all the way in QatarCredit: Getty
Noppert’s initial nerves as he made his debut in that opening game have now subsided as he gets use to being Holland’s most unlikely No1.
He said: “I am not nervous. Only in the first game that we played against Senegal. That was a special moment and you come on the pitch and there was our anthem.
“That was really special because it’s the first time but after I’m not nervous.”
Proof that you can become an unlikely hero was instilled in Noppert eight years ago when he was sat on his sofa at home watching Holland’s World Cup quarter-final in Brazil against Costa Rica.
With the game going to penalties, Van Gaal brought on Tim Krul in the 120th minute just for the spot kicks.
He saved two of the five as the Dutch progressed to the semi-finals.
Noppert said: “I was sat at home watching and I know a bit how the coach is and at that moment he had to do something and he did the right thing – he had to change something in the team and in the stadium and he did this.
“For a goalkeeper its an amazing feeling when you save the ball, so when you come in only for the penalties then it’s really special that you can save the team like this and he did in that moment and he did it great.”
Now can Noppert go down in history as the man whose saves helped Holland to World Cup glory?
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He said: “For sure you dream. I came here with the dream to win the World Cup and in my opinion its possible.
“Go step by step, play every game like it’s a final, then win THE final.” More

JUDE BELLINGHAM may be one of England’s brightest prospects, but that has not stopped him from bearing the brunt of a few jokes from the rest of his team-mates.Bellingham, 19, was on the end of some jokes after confessing his mum Denise still makes his bed.
Jude Bellingham with mum DeniseCredit: @BellinghamJude
Bellingham alongside his family including brother JobeCredit: Instagram
Bellingham in action for EnglandCredit: Getty
Conor Coady revealed some of the banter in the dressing room and revealed who in particular pokes the most fun at the revelation.
The on-loan Everton defender said: “Hendo (Jordan Henderson) looks after Jude like there is no tomorrow.
“The other day he (Bellingham) said something about his mum making his bed.
“We are talking Jude Bellingham here, one of the best young players in the world.
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“Hendo sat up at dinner and said: ‘What?’. Jude said, ‘My mum makes my bed’.
“Hendo was bashing and bashing him.”
Bellingham and Henderson both starred as England swept aside Wales thanks to a 3-0 victory on Tuesday.
A brace from Marcus Rashford and a Phil Foden tap-in at the far post saw the Three Lions top their group to set up a last 16 tie against African Cup of Nations champions Senegal.
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But Bellingham started off the World Cup in great form as well, scoring England’s first in the 6-2 demolition of Iran.
Gareth Southgate’s second World Cup England camp appeared to be in good spirits ahead of the Wales game.
Squad members were pictured enjoying some time in the pool alongside the infamous inflatable unicorn, taking in some sun at the beach and tucking into some delicious looking food.
Bellingham’s strong form at the World Cup can only bode well for his future and for current club Borussia Dortmund, who will doubtless be licking their lips at the ever-increasing transfer value of the teenager.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is said to be “obsessed” with the idea of signing the ex-Birmingham star for the Blues.
Meanwhile, Manchester United and Liverpool – both been long-term admirers – have been urged to instead go for Toni Kroos on a free rather than spend upwards of £100m for Bellingham.
Jordan Henderson celebrates with Bellingham after beating WalesCredit: Getty More