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    World Cup’s hottest fan Ivana Knoll gives glimpse inside stunning hotel room with RHINO BAR as she wows in sequin dress

    THE World Cup’s hottest fan, Ivana Knoll, has given fans a glimpse inside her stunning Miami hotel room with a RHINO BAR as she stunned in a sequin dress.Croatian Ivana shot to fame after catching the eye at the World Cup.
    Ivana Knoll stunned in a sequin dressCredit: Instagram
    The Croatian gained notoriety at the World CupCredit: Instagram
    Ivana’s hotel room had a rhino barCredit: Instagram
    The model enjoyed the hot Miami sunCredit: Instagram
    And now she flaunts her good looks with photos she shares to her 3.5million Instagram followers.
    This time, Ivana slipped into a sequin dress and showed off her plush Miami hotel room that had a RHINO BAR in it.
    The room also had a good view of a Miami beach – which wouldn’t have come cheap.
    Ivana got dolled up before hopping into a Rolls Royce and heading to LIV, a Miami nightclub, where singer Jason Derulo was having a good time.
    READ MORE ON IVANA KNOLL
    The model posted a video next to the singer.
    Ivana left Miami on Saturday morning but didn’t forget to leave fans starstruck.
    Ivana stunned in a tight-fitting black one-piece that helped to show off her curvy figure while strutting about a sun-kissed street.
    It was perfect for the Florida sunshine too as it showed off her back and legs.
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    Ivana tied her hair up and finished off her look with silver heels.
    One wrote: “Oh my god 😍❤️ gorgeous 🔥”
    Another added: “Such a beautiful woman! ❤️”
    And a third said: “What a figure 🔥🍑😍”
    Ivana headed to a Miami nightclubCredit: Instagram
    She was pictured close to signer Jason DeruloCredit: Instagram
    Ivana Knoll stunned in the Miami sunshineCredit: Instagram @knolldoll
    She looked flawless in a backless dressCredit: Instagram @knolldoll More

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    ‘I’m suffocating’ – Man Utd star Raphael Varane speaks out on quitting France after French legend calls him ‘disaster’

    RAPHAEL VARANE has revealed that football’s “suffocating” schedule is one of the reasons behind his retirement from international football aged 29.The 2018 World Cup-winning defender shocked the football world on Thursday when he decided to step away from representing France.
    Raphael Varane retired from international football aged 29Credit: AFP
    Varane’s tough call came nearly two months on from France’s devastating World Cup final loss to Argentina on penalties.
    And the Manchester United defender says playing consistently at the highest level has taken its toll on him.
    Varane said in an interview with Canal+ that is due to be released in full on Sunday: “I gave everything, physically and mentally.
    “But the very highest level is like a washing machine, you play all the time and you never stop.
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    “We have overloaded schedules and play non-stop.
    “Right now, I feel like I’m suffocating and that [Varane] the player is gobbling up [Varane] the man.”
    Varane’s decision to retire from international football follows on from World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris’ departure from the set-up.
    However, the four-time Champions League winner has been slammed by former France star Jerome Rothen as a “disaster”.
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    Rothen won 13 caps for his country between 2003 and 2007.
    He told Spanish outlet AS: “I think that at this age and when you play in a club that allows you to be at a very high level, you have a duty.
    “It’s to bring your talent to your country. He’s a disaster. He has a long history, congratulations!
    “He won the most beautiful of competitions, the World Cup in 2018. We saw all his contribution to the last World Cup.
    “There was scepticism because he was coming off an injury, but he performed very well.
    “But I tell myself: what a decision! It’s a disaster to hear that, not to wearing the national team shirt again at 29. He can’t do that.
    “Raphael, don’t forget you brought a lot, but here you are doing something stupid! The competition?
    “He put players in his pocket. It’s a major madness within this group.”
    Rothen then went on to speculate on the mood of the France camp post-Qatar World Cup.
    He concluded: “I can only think of one reason for him stopping at 29, it is because the atmosphere of the French must not be good.
    “Which France national team player stopped at the age of 29?”
    Varane was considered to be Lloris’ replacement as France’s captain, but the weight on the country will now most likely rest on Kylian Mbappe’s shoulders.
    The Paris Saint-Germain star has also confirmed himself as one of the best in world football and is on course to carve out a legendary career.
    Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the final against Argentina, and netted his penalty in the shootout, only to end up on the losing team.
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    He is only the second player to score three in a World Cup final, following on from England’s Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966.
    Mbappe has 12 World Cup finals goals to his name at just 24, and is just four behind record holder Miroslav Klose.
    Jerome Rothen has slammed Varane’s decision to retire from international football as a ‘disaster’Credit: Alamy More

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    Club World Cup referee makes history as he explains VAR decision to fans for first time ever

    A REFEREE in Morocco made history as he explained a VAR decision to fans inside the stadium for the first time ever. Video Assistant Referees have had a growing and controversial presence in football over the last few years.
    Ma Ning made history after broadcasting his decision-making to fans
    The Club World Cup is voice system trial could be expanded to other competitons
    Fifa chiefs are attempting to tackle criticism that the system lacks transparency and leaves fans inside the ground in the dark.
    The Club World Cup is hosting a trial where refs have to explain their decisions over a loudspeaker in the stadium.
    A game between Oceania champions Auckland City and Egyptian side Al-Ahly’s has gone down in history as the first where the system has been used.
    Chinese referee Ma Ning incorrectly awarded a penalty to Al-Ahly after Taher Mohamed was taken down by Adam Mitchell deep in stoppage time.
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    After consulting the pitch side monitor, Ning realised that the tackle had happened on the edge of the box rather than inside the penalty area.
    The mic’d up official returned to the pitch and his voice boomed over the speaker system to the 47,000 supporters inside the ground.
    Ning said: “Decision will be a free kick. Auckland No.3 – denial of a goalscoring opportunity.”
    He then gave Mitchell a red card. The sending off did not effect the overall outcome of the game with goals from Hussein El Shahat, Mohamed Sherif and Percy Tau sending Al-Ahly through to the second round.
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    Fans can expect to see more of the voice system with the technology set to be trailed throughout the Club World Cup, including when Champions League winners Real Madrid enter the tournament.
    If the trial is deemed a success, the men’s Under-20 World Cup and the women’s World Cup will also see the system used.
    It could then arrive in major European competitions like the Premier League. More

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    Kylian Mbappe set to be named new France captain aged 24 after Hugo Lloris’ retirement following World Cup heartache

    KYLIAN MBAPPE is set to be named the new France national team captain aged 24, according to reports.Les Bleus are on the hunt for a new skipper to lead the side going forwards following Hugo Lloris’ international retirement.
    Hugo Lloris lifted the World Cup in 2018 but retired from international football after Qatar 2022Credit: Getty Images – Getty
    Kylian Mbappe is the most suitable candidate to replace the veteran goalkeeper as France captainCredit: Getty
    The Tottenham stopper wore the armband at the World Cup in 2018 as France were crowned champions, lifting the iconic trophy after the win over Croatia.
    Four years later, Didier Deschamps’ men came within a penalty shootout of retaining the title but lost in heartbreaking fashion to Argentina.
    Lloris, 36, decided to step away immediately afterwards, leaving Deschamps to find a replacement.
    And according to Get French Football News, Mbappe is the leading candidate.
    READ MORE ON FRANCE FOOTBALL
    The Paris Saint-Germain forward delivered the goals and the performances in Russia and Qatar – and now he could be tasked with becoming the official leader of the team on and off the pitch.
    Despite his relatively young age, Mbappe has already racked up 66 senior France caps, scoring 36 goals – including eight in Qatar to win the Golden Boot.
    Karim Benzema and Steve Mandanda were both possible successors to Lloris but have also retired from international football.
    And arguably the most obvious next choice as captain, Raphael Varane, also walked away aged just 29 in a shock announcement.
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    That leaves only 36-year-old Olivier Giroud and the reserved character of Antoine Griezmann as the two remaining members of the 2022 World Cup squad with more caps than Mbappe.
    However, Giroud is likely to follow in the footsteps of his former team-mates by ending his international career, too.
    That leaves Mbappe as the only genuine option as a guaranteed starter in the France XI with enough experience to become the new skipper.
    The ex-Monaco ace was promoted to vice-captain at PSG by manager Christophe Galtier after making a U-turn to stay put at the Parc des Princes.
    Marquinhos is the club captain but when he was on the bench against sixth-tier US Pays de Cassel last month, Mbappe wore the armband for the first time – on a night where he scored FIVE goals. More

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    Wales national anthem lyrics: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau – Land of Our Fathers in English and Welsh

    THERE are very few national anthems in the world that are belted out with the pride and ferocity of Wales’ Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.The song, which translates into English as ‘Land of my Fathers’, is one of the most recognisable in global sport – with Welsh fans belting out the famous lyrics for the Wales vs Ireland Six Nations match.
    Wales bellow their national anthem with pride
    Wales’ rugby captain Alun Wyn Jones and his team-mates sing the Welsh national anthemCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
    During rugby matches at the Principality Stadium and the Wales national football team’s games at Cardiff City Stadium, the anthem has become synonymous with the never-say-die Welsh attitude to big sporting occasions.
    What are the lyrics to Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau in Welsh?
    Usually only the first verse and the chorus is sung at sporting events, but we’ve included the whole lot for you lot keen enough to see the whole thing.
    Verse 1 
    Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
    Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
    Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,
    Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
    Chorus
    Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad.
    Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoff bau,
    O bydded i’r hen iaith barhau.
    Fans raise the roof during a rousing renditionCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
    Verse 2
    Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd,
    Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i’m golwg sydd hardd;
    Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
    Ei nentydd, afonydd, i mi.
    Verse 3
    Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad tan ei droed,
    Mae hen iaith y Cymru mor fyw ag erioed,
    Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
    Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.
    What are the lyrics in English?
    Obviously with the anthem being sung in Welsh, this is only the translation and won’t be belted out during the Six Nations like this.
    But it’s good know what the lyrics mean – and they’re suitably patriotic.
    Verse 1
    This land of my fathers is dear to me,
    Land of poets and singers, and people of stature,
    Her brave warriors, fine patriots,
    Shed their blood for freedom.
    Chorus
    Land! Land! I am true to my land!
    As long as the sea serves as a wall for this pure, dear land.
    May the language endure for ever. More

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    Man Utd star Raphael Varane STUNS France by retiring from international football aged just 29 after World Cup final loss

    MANCHESTER UNITED and World Cup-winning defender, Raphael Varane, has STUNNED France by retiring from international football aged 29, according to reports.Varane made 93 appearances in his near decade-long international career.
    Raphael Varane has retired from international footballCredit: Getty
    But according to Le Parisien, the defender does not want to push on towards the century mark and will retire from international football.
    Varane played at the World Cup in Qatar last November-December and helped his country reach a second consecutive final.
    However, France were beaten on penalties by Argentina after a 3-3 thriller.
    Varane would like to spend more time with his family, as well as limited the chances of big injuries in the latter stages of his career.
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    Across the span of his career, Varane has missed an astonishing 90 club games through injury, the worst layoff coming in 2013 with a meniscus rupture.
    The Man Utd ace also recognises it’s time for the next generation of French defenders to take over.
    The likes of Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba, Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are all tipped to have bright careers.
    Varane’s decision comes despite Euro 2024 taking place next year – the only major competition he is yet to win.
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    In his statement, beside a phot of him holding the World Cup trophy, wrote: ‘Representing our great country for a decade has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
    “Each time I wore this special blue jersey, I felt immense pride. 
    ‘The duty to give everything, to play with my heart and to win every time we entered the field.
    “I have been considering this for several months and have decided that it is the right time for me to retire from international football.
    ‘As a child, I remember following France 98, this team, these players who made us experience indescribable emotions.
    “I dreamed of doing like our heroes and, 20 years later, I had one of the best experiences of my life, one that made me really proud. 
    ‘We brought the Cup home!! I will never forget him. I still feel every single emotion I felt that day, July 15, 2018.
    “It was one of the greatest and most memorable moments of my life.
    ‘Even after the defeat in the final last year, with certainly a great run, you welcomed us as heroes when we returned. To each and every one of you, a thousand times THANK YOU!”
    The ex-Real Madrid ace made his debut for Les Bleus in March 2013, starting in the 3-1 win over Georgia.
    Varane was part of the 2018 World Cup-winning team, helping France redeem themselves for the 2016 Euros loss on home soil – a tournament he missed through injury.
    He played every single game at the Russia tournament, not missing a single minute of football.
    France won the final 4-2 against Croatia to secure their second-ever world crown.
    Read More on The Sun
    In the same year, Varane won a fourth Champions League title with Real and a fourth Club World Cup, solidifying himself as one of the best players in the world.
    In 2018 on an individual level, he was part of the Fifa Pro World11, Uefa Team of the Year, Uefa Champions League Squad of the Season, Fifa World Cup Fantasy Team, Fifa World Cup Dream Team and the IFFHS Men’s World Team. More

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    Hand of God ref who tried to net £3million for match ball faces hefty loss in his second attempt to sell it

    THE greedy Hand of God ref who tried to net £3million for the match ball faces a hefty loss in his second attempt to sell it.A would-be buyer last month offered £2million for the ball which Ali Bin Nasser, 78, grabbed after the 1986 World Cup quarter-final.
    Hand of God ref Ali Bin Nasser who tried to net £3million for the match ball faces a hefty lossCredit: Darren Fletcher
    Bin Nasser failed to spot Maradona blatantly punch the ball past Peter Shilton for the game’s first goalCredit: Popperfoto
    The bid for the deflated Adidas was £500,000 below the London auction reserve price, so it was not sold.
    Bin Nasser, 78, is now flogging it online with US firm Goldin.
    But he could be kicking himself as, with eight days left on the auction, the highest bid is only £847,276.
    He stashed the ball in a cupboard after Argentina’s controversial 2-1 victory over England in Mexico.
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    Tunisian Bin Nasser failed to spot Diego Maradona blatantly punch the ball past goalie Peter Shilton for the game’s first goal.
    The midfielder, who also netted the second, later said the opener had been scored with “a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the Hand of God”.
    Bin Nasser, who never refereed at a World Cup again, decided to flog the ball last year.
    Fifa rules stated that he was exclusive owner.
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    He plans to share the cash with family.
    England’s Steve Hodge, who swapped shirts with Maradona after the game, flogged the star’s No 10 jersey for £7million last year.
    Bin Nasser, who never refereed at a World Cup again, decided to flog the ball last yearCredit: AFP
    Bin Nasser could be kicking himself as, with eight days left on the auction, the highest bid is only £847,276Credit: AFP
    The ref stashed the ball in a cupboard after Argentina’s controversial 2-1 victory over England in MexicoCredit: The Mega Agency
    Maradona shakes hands with Peter Shilton under the watching eye of ref Ali Bin NasserCredit: Getty More

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    World Cup’s hottest fan Ivana Knoll flashes the flesh in backless dress as she strikes raunchy pose in Miami

    IVANA KNOLL set pulses racing once again as she struck a raunchy pose on the streets of Miami.The Croatian shot to fame after stunning at the World Cup.
    Ivana Knoll stunned in the Miami sunshineCredit: Instagram @knolldoll
    She looked flawless in a backless dressCredit: Instagram @knolldoll
    Ivana knoll often leaves little to the imaginationCredit: Instagram @knolldoll
    Her photos leave her 3.6million Instagram followers stunnedCredit: Instagram @knolldoll
    The Croatian shot to fame at the World CupCredit: Instagram @knolldoll
    Ivana is a former Miss CroatiaCredit: Instagram @knolldoll
    And now she often flaunts her good looks with photos she shares to her 3.6million Instagram followers.
    On this occasion Ivana stunned in a tight-fitting black one-piece that helped to show off her curvy figure.
    It was perfect for the Florida sunshine too as it showed off her back and legs.
    Ivana tied her hair up and finished off her look with silver heels.
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    Her followers were wowed by the incredible look and rushed to compliment the former Miss Croatia.
    One wrote: “Oh my god 😍❤️ gorgeous 🔥”
    Another added: “Such a beautiful woman! ❤️”
    And a third said: “What a figure 🔥🍑😍”
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    Another commented: “Wow!!! Smokin!!! 🔥”
    Ivana recently showed off her athletic legs and likened her muscles to that of Cristiano Ronaldo. More