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      Inside David Beckham’s £20,000-a-night suite in five star Qatar hotel, as star checks out after almost a week

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      DAVID Beckham has checked out of his five-star Qatar hotel after almost a week as fans discovered where he was staying.The former England star has reportedly been enjoying a stint at the elegant Baraha View suite at the Mandarin Oriental in Doha – costing up to £20,000 a night.
      The hotel’s Baraha View suite costs £20,000 a nightCredit: Oriental Mandarin hotel
      The luxury suite boasts rooftop views of the Qatari capital of DohaCredit: Oriental Mandarin hotel
      Beckham had reportedly been staying in the plush pad for almost a weekCredit: Oriental Mandarin hotel
      The former England captain checked out of the Oriental Madarin hotel this weekend, sources suggestCredit: Oriental Mandarin hotel
      Located on the hotel’s top floor, the room comes with its own dining area, private concierge, an open air courtyard, private pool and gym.
      But according to the Mail Online, Beckham checked out over the weekend after word spread about his accommodation status.
      A source told the outlet: “The staff have loved having him here and referred to him as ‘Sir David’ because he was so respectful and respected back by everyone.
      “He wasn’t seen much at all by the other guests because he had a lovely suite which is like a hotel within a hotel, meaning he didn’t need to mix with them.
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      “He’s been very polite and charming to the staff and seems like a very decent man. Sir David is one of the most famous men in world football and it’s been an honour having him here.
      “It’s a pity he’s no longer here but I’m sure he’ll be back. Who wouldn’t love staying here?”
      During his stay, the football ace reportedly enjoyed the use of a personal chef while taking in the stunning views from the luxury city suite.
      Sources suggest his menu included Japanese Kobe steak, cooked rare and a selection of pasta dishes.
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      To avoid being detected by paparazzi, Beckham has been making his way in and out of the luxury hotel using a private lobby entrance.
      On matchdays, he has reportedly been ferried around the capital in a blacked out limousine.
      In addition, Beckham has also spent time broadening his knowledge of local culture in his role as a public relations officer for the Qatari organising committee.
      So far, he has already spent an afternoon at Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art – snapping images of large colourful art installations and impressive technological light shows.
      However, he has been soaking up the lavish Qatari lifestyle alone, with his wife Victoria and their children thought to be in the UK.
      The former football ace has been in the spotlight for some time after he sealed his reported £150 million ten-year deal with Qatar to be its ambassador.
      Commentators – including comedian Joe Lycett – have slammed him for his association with the gulf nation, due its human rights record and its attitude towards women and the LGBT community.
      But, since the tournament began, Beckham has kept a low profile and has not commented on the matter.
      The former England star has been attending matches at the World CupCredit: Alamy
      He signed a deal worth £15million a year over the next decade to become the country’s ambassadorCredit: Rex More

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      Portugal clash with Uruguay at World Cup halted after protester with rainbow flag runs onto pitch and ‘frogmarched’ off

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      PORTUGAL’S clash with Uruguay was forced to stop after a spectator invaded the pitch carrying a rainbow flag.The protester raced onto the field from the stands just moments before Bruno Fernandes put Portugal ahead in their World Cup Group H showdown – although Cristiano Ronaldo may dispute who got the final touch.
      A pitch invader carrying a rainbow flag stopped Portugal’s clash with UruguayCredit: AFP
      The protestor had ‘Save Ukraine’ on the front of his t-shirtCredit: Reuters
      He also had ‘Respect For Iranian Woman’ on the backCredit: EPA
      ITV’s commentary team said he was ‘frogmarched’ off by securityCredit: Reuters
      The ITV cameras failed to show the individual, but commentator Jon Champion confirmed that they were carrying a rainbow flag.
      Photos emerged later showing that the man was also wearing a blue t-shirt with the ‘Superman’ logo with the words ‘Save Ukraine’ written on it.
      And on the back it had ‘Respect for Iranian Woman’.
      After the short delay to the match, which Portugal won 2-0, Champion added that security had caught the person and ‘frogmarched’ him off the grass.
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      Seven nations, including England and Wales, planned for their skippers to wear One Love armbands in their opening World Cup matches.
      The armbands promote inclusivity and LGBTQ+ rights, with same-sex relationships illegal in Qatar.
      Alongside the above three, Germany, France, Belgium, and Switzerland had all also wanted their captains to wear them.
      But the seven skippers were warned by Fifa that they faced a yellow card as a “minimum” punishment for wearing the armbands.
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      Germany sent a defiant message to Fifa with an iconic team photo ahead of their shock World Cup defeat to Japan yesterday.
      Their players lined up for the pre-match team photo and all covered their mouths with their right hand – an act to show they had been silenced by the tournament organisers.
      We also reported last week how Qatar has been ordered by Fifa to stop forcing fans to remove their rainbow hats when they enter stadiums.
      Security guards ahead of Wales’ 1-1 draw with the USA cracked down on fans wearing pro-LGBTQ+ clothing at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
      Fans reported being forced to remove rainbow-coloured bucket hats, rainbow wristbands and even rainbow laces.
      And one man even reported he was refused entry to the stadium because he was wearing a T-shirt sporting a rainbow.
      LGBTQ+ rights have been at the centre of controversies around the World Cup – with same-sex relationships punishable by death in Qatar.
      Welsh fan group The Rainbow Wall reported only women were targeted and forced to remove their rainbow clobber.
      And this included former Wales international football star Laura McAllister. More

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      Fans confused as Ronaldo wildly celebrates 100th competitive Portugal goal… before Fifa give it to Bruno Fernandes

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      FANS have been left confused over who scored Portugal’s opening goal in their 2-0 win over Uruguay. Bruno Fernandes whipped in a cross towards the head of Cristiano Ronaldo and it found it’s way into the back of the net.
      Cristiano Ronaldo was convinced he had scoredCredit: EPA
      Fans were left debating whether he scored or notCredit: Twitter
      Fans were unsure who scored but celebrated jubilantlyCredit: Getty
      The 37-year-old climbed highest and threw his head at the ball before it bounced in.
      Ronaldo ran away celebrating claiming he got a touch on his former Manchester United teammates’ cross but replays were not conclusive.
      But the authorities disagreed with Ronaldo and gave the goal to Fernandes in controversial circumstances.
      Firstly, Fifa gave it to Ronaldo before changing their minds. They tweeted: “The goal has officially been ruled as scored by Bruno Fernandes.”
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      It would have been the striker’s 100th competitive goal for Portugal.
      Commentator Ally McCoist joked: “I guarantee after the game he [Ronaldo] says he touches it.”
      Fans were left debating over who the goal should be awarded to.
      A Ronaldo fan claimed: “Cristiano robbed of his ninth World Cup goal as two of his hair follicles touched the ball.”
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      But another did not think he touched it slamming the ex-Real Madrid man saying: “The fact that he actually tried that tells so much about him as a person. Only thinks about himself.”
      More commented: “No he clearly didn’t [touch it] yet he shamelessly celebrated as it was his goal, most shameless player ever.
      Another joked “he’s going to tell Piers Morgan” in reference to his explosive interview where he slammed Man Utd and a number of former teammates like Gary Neville.
      Pundits were left equally perplexed.
      Joe Cole wasn’t sure, telling ITV: “I can’t see where he touches it”.
      Graeme Souness urged Ronaldo to fess up, saying: “Only one person knows”.
      Whether Fernandes scored the first one or not, he definitely got the second as he netted from the spot in injury time. More

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      Watch Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliant shoulder pass as Portugal star sets up team-mate Carvalho in Uruguay World Cup clash

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO almost set up a goal in Portugal’s crunch World Cup meeting with Uruguay thanks to an outrageous piece of skill.Fans were wowed as the 37-year-old nearly grabbed an assist with his SHOULDER.

      Cristiano Ronaldo nearly grabbed an assist with an outrageous shoulder passCredit: Getty
      Ronaldo somehow managed to use his shoulder to direct the ball to team-mate William CarvalhoCredit: BEIN SPORTS
      Ronaldo’s pass dropped perfectly for CarvalhoCredit: NOS
      Ronaldo scored in Portugal’s opening win over Ghana – days after he was sacked by Manchester United following his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan.
      And the free agent looked in the mood for more in the game against Uruguay.
      With the match in just the third minute, left-back Nuno Mendes launched a long throw towards Ronaldo in the box.
      There wasn’t much on for the forward as it fell to him, but he somehow managed to connect perfectly with the ball using his shoulder.
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      It looped in the air and dropped perfectly for William Carvalho to hit on the volley.
      But the midfielder blazed his effort over the bar, costing Ronaldo an incredible assist.
      Fans though were left in awe by Ronaldo’s skill.
      One wrote on Twitter: “Bruh the shoulder pass by Ronaldo was clean af.”
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      Another gushed: “Ronaldo that shoulder pass was FILTH more of that please GOAT.”
      A third added: “That Ronaldo shoulder was insane…”
      And another declared: “That Ronaldo shoulder flick was outrageous.”
      Ronaldo and Portugal went on to qualify for the World Cup knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Uruguay.
      It seemed Ronaldo scored the opener – before it was then credited to Bruno Fernandes.
      The Manchester United midfielder then added a second from the penalty spot in injury time.
      Ronaldo scored in Portugal’s opening win over GhanaCredit: AP More

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      Portugal star Nuno Mendes limps off in tears in Uruguay clash with PSG star’s World Cup looking in peril

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      PORTUGAL star Nuno Mendes limped off in tears in the 2-0 win over Uruguay.The left-back hobbled off the pitch crying into his shirt with his World Cup dream potentially over.
      Nuno Mendes cried as he sustained an injuryCredit: Getty
      He was consoled by the team’s doctors and teammates as he left the field and headed straight down the tunnel.
      The Paris Saint-Germain youngster, 20, went off just 42 minutes into the clash with Uruguay and was replaced by Raphael Guerreiro.
      Mendes went into the tournament nursing a slight problem and he did not feature in Portugal’s opener against Ghana.
      It is believed he had a hamstring issue but was deemed fit enough to play in Qatar.
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      However it appears he may have aggravated the injury and judging from his reaction Mendes could be on the sidelines for some time.
      He missed five of PSG’s matches prior to the World Cup hiatus with the muscular problem.
      Portugal’s injury woes are mounting with a number of key players in the treatment room.
      Liverpool ace Diogo Jota was not named in the squad due to a calf problem and while at the World Cup both Danilo Pereira and Otavio have picked up knocks.
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      Pereira, who also plays for PSG, has broken his ribs but his manager appeared confident in a press conference that he will be fit again soon.
      Portugal went on to qualify for the World Cup knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Uruguay.
      It seemed Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opener – before it was then credited to Bruno Fernandes.
      The Manchester United midfielder then added a second from the penalty spot in injury time.
      Portugal will play South Korea in their final match in Group H. More

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      Ex-Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal reveals plan for one last job after the World Cup… but it all depends on his Holland team

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      LOUIS VAN GAAL SAYS if he becomes World Champion he will be open to another big job in football.The 71-year-old’s last club job was at Manchester United where he was sacked in 2016 but he came back from self-imposed retirement last year for his third stint in charge of the Dutch national side.
      Louis Van Gaal said he will be open to another big job if he wins the World Cup.Credit: EPA
      With four points from his opening two games out here he has them on the brink of reaching the last 16 as Group A winners, with already eliminated hosts Qatar the opponents in their final game tomorrow.
      And while Ronaldo Koeman has already agreed to take the reigns of the side after the tournament Van Gaal says the game may not be lost to him just yet.
      Van Gaal said: “My successor has already been appointed so that is not really an issue. I only did this to support Dutch football and thank them for this opportunity.
      “I’m doing this because I’m grateful and if we become world champion then the football world is a very opportunistic world so you never know?”
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      To become World Champions out here in Qatar, however, he knows his team are going to have to improve on their opening two games.
      They left it late in beating Senegal 2-0 and after taking an early lead through Cody Gakpo against Ecuador they fell flat and could easily have lost, ending up with a 1-1 draw.
      After both games he criticised their poor ball possession and claimed against that they lost every duel.
      Back home in Holland there has been plenty of criticism for him changing from the 4-3-3 formation he mostly used in an impressive qualifying campaign to what is seen as a more defensive negative 5-3-2 with the wing-backs sat back.
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      People close to the Dutch camp suggest the players would prefer that 4-3-3 too.
      His tactics are viewed as not the football that made the Dutch famous, not on the front foot, but sitting back and preferring to counter attack.
      Although that same system served him well in his last stint in charge when in Brazil in 2014 he somehow got the team to within penalty kicks of the final.
      And they have not lost since Van Gaal resumed control, now unbeaten in 17 matches.
      Van Gaal said: “I reflected on this system for a year and a half and it may be at some point I adjust it but at this moment in time I see no need to do that.
      “We want improvement in our ball possession, and make better decisions.
      “Against Ecuador we didn’t pass to the right colour shirt.
      “But we are not gloomy – the characteristics of this squad is that we will always go that extra mile so in my view this Ecuador game was an exception to the rule.
      Van Gaal’s last club job was with Manchester United between 2014 and 2016Credit: PA:Press Association
      The Dutchman won the FA Cup at Old Trafford but was sacked two days laterCredit: EPA
      “We are unbeaten for 17 matches and I think if you look at the goal difference too we deserve some respect.”
      From the outset Van Gaal has admitted he does not have the best squad here but still says they can win the tournament, something he denies puts any extra pressure on the players.
      He said: “I hope this is no pressure at all because always you have to identify the goal and if you say the quarter finals is enough you won’t become world champions.
      “I never said we will become world champions, I said we have a chance to become world champions and the players are convinced of that.”
      Van Gaal was in good form again yesterday in Doha as he has been in all his press conferences.
      This time he was flanked by Frenkie de Jong in the Doha media centre and the Barcelona midfielder was looking noticeably pale.
      This was pointed out to him by a member of the Dutch media and De Jong admitted to having a sore throat and not having slept.
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      Van Gaal said: “Thank you for saying Frenkie looks a bit pale because I’ve seen that as well. The rest of us have been lying at the poolside.
      “Me not so much but my mother when she died had rosy cheeks – it’s a case of genes.” More

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      I’m a World Cup time-traveller and I know who’s going to win between Iran and USA – I have footage of the final whistle

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      A SELF-proclaimed time traveller has wildly claimed they know the result of Tuesday’s crunch clash between Iran and the USA – adding they even have the footage to prove it.TikTok user @guardian_angel_5 has spent the last week sharing predictions for the tournament, but went one step further in their latest post.
      A time traveller believes Iran will beat the USA in Tuesday’s crucial Group B clashCredit: guardian_angel_5
      Iran would qualify for the knockout stages with a winCredit: guardian_angel_5
      In the bizarre clip, the user claimed they know the result of Group B’s pivotal match on Tuesday evening, including what the score will be.
      Sharing footage, which they claimed was taken in the future, they claimed that Iran would beat the USA 3-1.
      The clip, shared with their 8,000 followers, shows Iranian fans celebrating, while Christian Pulisic shakes hands with the opposition.
      On the screen is the scoreline Iran 3 -1 USA, with the official-looking World Cup screen graphics.
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      The screen even shows the apparent goalscorers in the match, leaving the self-proclaimed time traveller with very little wiggle room.
      According to the clip, the Iran scorers include a brace from prolific hitman Mehdi Taremi and defender Morteza Pouraliganji.
      For the USA, the scorer is Chelsea’s Pulisic.
      In the short video, the TikTok user said: “I’m a time traveller, we are going to lose to Iran 3-1.”
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      Many were impressed with the “time traveller’s” editing skills, even if they were more doubtful about their claims.
      “Is this fake or real,” one said.
      “And he included the minutes of the goals,” another exclaimed.
      But others were quick to point out that the clip of Pulisic shaking his hands was from their Group B clash with England on Friday night.
      Another pointed out that the Iran kit sported in the video was from their campaign in the 2018 World Cup.
      Iran, in the wake of their dramatic win over Wales, currently sit second in Group B.
      As a result, the Persian Stars sit just a point off table-topping England.
      USA, meanwhile, have the opportunity to secure a qualification place with a win over the Iranians.
      A scenario where both teams would miss out is in the unlikely event they draw and Wales beat the Three Lions by a four-goal margin.
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      The game will take place tomorrow – Tuesday, November 29 and will kick off from 7pm UK time.
      Iran vs USA will be shown live on BBC One in the UK. More

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      World Cup top scorer Enner Valencia set to face Senegal after miracle recovery… and it could be bad news for England

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      ENNER VALENCIA has stunned World Cup doctors and is poised to start Ecuador’s crunch clash versus Senegal.The skipper was carted off in the last match on a stretcher amid fears of a serious knee injury.
      Enner Valencia is hoping to lead his team out againCredit: Reuters
      But the tournament’s joint-top scorer has amazed team medics and is optimistic of facing Senegal in the winner-takes-all match.
      The Netherlands are odds on to win Group A which means whoever finishes behind them could well end up playing England in the last 16.
      Ex-West Ham striker Valencia has been undergoing intensive treatment since aggravating a knock in his country’s second game against the Dutch.
      And he was last seen being carried off with a huge ice pack on the affected area.
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      Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro said: “Enner Valencia unfortunately had a knee sprain in the first match. Hopefully the ligaments are ok and according to medical reports yes we have a knee sprain.
      “But he has a big heart and wants to be in every battle. We have the leadership from our captain and that is essential, something we always need.
      “He is an extraordinary player, someone I always pick and even if he is not ready for the start, I have confidence he will be there to play some part.
      “He is feisty and I hope he will be able to play more matches for us.”
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      Valencia, 33, scored the first goal of the tournament with a penalty against Qatar. He has three altogether and is level with France superstar Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot.
      Ecuador have only progressed once beyond the group stage and never into the quarter finals.
      South American football is dominated by the twin giants of Brazil and Argentina. A duopoly that Ecuador’s Argentinian coach insists is changing.
      Alfaro said: “The World Cup so far has been beautiful. There was once a marked difference between the favourites and the rest. Suddenly you are seeing evenly matched games. This is how growth works.
      “I really hope this trophy will go to a South American team. We are ready to fight. We are feisty.
      “We have weapons. Our excitement, our talents. Our country has so many things pushing us forwards and we will bring our A game. We will give it all on the pitch and that is what we are doing. I am really happy with everything my team is doing.”
      Ecuador have their fate in their own hands. Even a draw against the African champions will see them through.
      They played England at the World Cup in Germany 2006. A David Bekcham free kick made the difference, sending the South Americans home.
      They could yet top Group A if they beat Holland’s results against abject hosts Qatar as the first stage draws to a close.
      Senegal have struggled in the absence of captain and recently-departed Liverpool forward Sadio Mane.
      Boss, ex Birmingham and Portsmouth midfielder Aliou Cisse does not want to put too much pressure on his players but regards this World Cup as a barometer for African football too.
      Then he said: “Football isn’t war. Nobody will die in battle. I hope not anyway. But it is an important game for my generation. We are playing extraordinary football and want to continue this adventure. 
      “We won’t be able to take our eyes off the ball. We know we can score, so can they. I know my boys will be focused tomorrow.
      “Not going to the last 16 would be a hard pill to swallow.”
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      Possible Ecuador line-up: Galindez; Porozo, Torres, Hincapie; Preciado, Mendez, Caicedo, Estupinan, Plata, Valencia; Estrada.
      Possible Senegal line-up: Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Jakobs; Sarr, Mendy, Gueye, Diatta; Dia, Diedhiou.
      Ecuador’s Enner Valencia was taken off injured in the last gameCredit: AP More