World Cup

Subterms

    More stories

    • 225 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Argentina legend Lionel Messi ‘will room alone for first ever World Cup’ after best pal Sergio Aguero’s retirement

      by

      LIONEL MESSI will be bunking alone for the first major international tournament of his career this month.Messi routinely shacked up with good pal Sergio Aguero while away on international duty ever since their days playing for Argentina’s youth squads.
      Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero became joined at the hip from a very young ageCredit: AFP
      But their bromance won’t be on show at the World Cup following Aguero’s retirementCredit: AP
      Messi had bunked with Aguero for all major international tournaments but will sleep alone for Qatar 2022
      But Aguero’s sudden retirement from footy last year means Messi will now spend the World Cup nights in Qatar alone.
      Such was the bond between Messi and Aguero that Argentina have opted NOT to give him a room with one of his team-mates.
      Argentine footy expert Roy Nemer managed to a glimpse at the outside of Messi’s room at the team hotel on Thursday.
      And unlike the room next to it – which is housing Nicolas Otamendi and Rodrigo De Paul and had the duo’s name on it – Messi’s placard was the only one hanging on the door.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Messi will no doubt be missing former Manchester City and Barcelona hitman Aguero in his Qatari digs.
      The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner paid an emotional tribute to Aguero following his retirement – which came about after he was diagnosed with a heart condition.
      He wrote on Instagram: “Practically a whole career together, Kun.
      “We lived very beautiful moments and others that were not so, all of them made us unite more and be closer friends.
      Most read in Football
      PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k
      “‘And we are going to continue living them together off the pitch.
      “With the great joy of lifting the Copa America so little ago, with all the achievements you achieved in England.
      “And the truth is that now it hurts a lot to see how you have to stop doing what you like the most because of what happened to you.
      “Surely you will continue to be happy because you are a person who transmits happiness and those of us who love you will be with you.
      “Now a new stage of your life begins and I am convinced that you are going to live it with a smile and with all the illusion that you put into everything.
      “All the best in this new stage !!! I love you a lot, friend, I’m going to miss a lot being with you on the pitch and when we get together with the National Team !!! @Kun Aguero.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Messi and his Argentina team-mates will kick off their World Cup on Wednesday afternoon with their Group C opener against Saudi Arabia.
      Qatar 2022 will be Messi’s last major international tournament as he plans to retire from La Albiceleste duty after the competition. More

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Dream Team World Cup: Argentina’s star players, potential flops and bargain options

      by

      Much of the footballing world is hoping for a fitting, fairytale World Cup ending which sees Lionel Messi lifting the trophy in Qatar.And a fair few want him to go out at the group stage as well!
      But which players are capable of helping the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to inspire Argentina – on an unbeaten run of 35 games – to World Cup greatness?

      TIME IS RUNNING OUT! CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP NOW – £50,000 PRIZE POT

      STAR PLAYERS
      We’ll start with the main man himself as he plots the ultimate sign-off from international football.
      Messi is the joint-most expensive player in the game alongside Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe — but surely it’s money well spent.
      With Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland for company, Argentina are heavy favourites to win their group and their No10 will be eyeing big returns in the opening three games.
      He has 90 goals and 51 assists in 164 caps and could make his 1000th professional appearance during this tournament.
      A must-have? We think so…as do 32.9% of managers right now.
      Main man MessiCredit: Getty
      One thing to bear in mind when selecting from La Selección is the abundance of Martinezs available – make sure you pick the right one!
      Or in this case, pick two in Emi and Lautaro. The former has five keepers ahead of him that are more expensive, despite Argentina’s favourable group stage draw.
      He only has three clean sheets to his name in the Premier League this season but that is no indication on his own personal Aston Villa form and he will get the nod in goals here with a far superior defence ahead of him.
      While Inter Milan’s striker has an outside chance of claiming the Golden Boot award if his side go deep in the tournament.
      Martinez has eight goals and six assists for Inter so far this campaign and 21 goals and seven assists in 40 caps – and will have Messi feeding him through balls.
      At 25 years of age, this could easily be the tournament where he properly announces himself to the world.
      POTENTIAL FLOPS
      Another Martinez now, this time Man United’s centre-back, Lisandro.
      A flop, really? It’s nothing to do with him as a player, given he overcame a tough start at Old Trafford and is now considered one of the best purchases of the summer.
      It’s more to do with his £4m price tag and the fact Nicolas Otamendi and Cristian Romero could be ahead of him in the pecking order to play at centre back.
      A benchwarmer?
      Paulo Dybala is another who could have a bit-part role this winter having just returned from injury.
      He came off the bench for the final 20 minutes in Roma’s draw with Torino and picked up a booking.
      The 29-year-old lacks nothing in ability but he’ll probably be limited to substitute cameos so Dream Team World Cup bosses should stay clear.
      BARGAIN OPTIONS
      At a reasonable £3.5m, Nahuel Molina has only been selected by just over 1% of all managers – that could be an oversight.
      His form for Atletico Madrid hasn’t been great recently but he’s been a regular starter at right-back during a successful spell for Argentina.
      Rodrigo de PaulCredit: Reuters
      It’s a similar story for club and country team-mate Rodrigo de Paul, who – at the same price as Molina – offers solid value for a midfield spot.
      He’s one of those players who seems to take his game to another level on the international stage and has been a big contributor to his country’s unbeaten run.

      TIME IS RUNNING OUT! CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP NOW – £50,000 PRIZE POT More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Aaron Ramsdale trolled by England team-mates who joke he keeps talking about Arsenal being top of the league

      by

      AARON RAMSDALE keeps being trolled by his England team-mates over Arsenal topping the Premier League table.The Gunners goalkeeper is with the Three Lions squad as they prepare for the World Cup in Qatar.
      Aaron Ramsdale is competing with Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope for the starting spot for EnglandCredit: Getty
      Ramsdale has revealed that players are winding him up about him going on about Arsenal being top.
      The 24-year-old said: “Most of the banter is coming from Conor Coady and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
      “They keep walking around pretending that I’ve said, ‘Five points clear’, every day.”
      The goalkeeper will be hopeful to get some minutes in Qatar, but he will have to overtake regular number one Jordan Pickford.
      READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
      The Everton shot-stopper has been between the sticks for Gareth Southgate in the last two international tournaments.
      Ramsdale however joked that if he does make it on to the pitch that he will be most worried about his dad.
      He added: “There were definitely a few tears shed from him [when he got the call].
      “If I make it on to the pitch, he might not return home – he might have a heart attack.
      Most read in Football
      PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k

      “He won’t have any nails left, put it that way.”
      England’s campaign starts against Iran on November 21, before they face the USA and Wales. More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      World Cup preview – Day 2: England vs Iran tips and prediction, Wales, USA & Holland free bets, bonus sign-up offers

      by

      ENGLAND kick-start their World Cup campaign against Iran. Wales, USA and Holland are also in action on a busy Monday.And SunSport are on-hand to preview Day 2 of the competition while bringing you our carefully selected best bets, sign-up offers and exclusive bonuses from our partners.
      Day 2: England kick-start their World Cup campaign against IranCredit: GETTY
      Day 2 of the competition beings on Monday, and there’s no shortage of action with three matches taking place in Group A and B.
      England get the ball rolling against Iran at the at the Khalifa International Stadium at 1pm.
      Senegal then take on Louis van Gaal’s Holland at 4pm with the USA and Wales rounding things off in the 7pm clash at Al Rayyan Stadium.
      Already got a bet in mind? Why not register a new account with Grosvenor Sport and you will get DOUBLE the odds when you stake a tenner on anything! CLAIM HERE*
      If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you could take advantage of Sky Bet’s World Cup offer, where new customers will receive £40 in free bets when they stake £10 on football. CLAIM HERE*
      World Cup fixtures – Day 2Monday, November 22

      England vs Iran – Group B, 1pm kick off at the Khalifa International Stadium
      Senegal vs Netherlands – Group A, 4pm kick off at the Al Thumama Stadium
      USA vs Wales – Group B, 7pm kick off at Al Rayyan Stadium

      Today’s best offer

      William Hill: Get England to beat Iran at Evens – CLAIM HERE*

      England are strong favourites to beat Iran in their World Cup opener. It’s normally priced at 2/7 but William Hill customers can back the Three Lions at Evens!

      England vs Iran
      There will likely be some VERY long lunch breaks in England on Monday.
      The Three Lions will look to get their 2022 World Cup campaign off to a flyer against Iran, who sit 15 places below them in FIFA’s rankings.
      Despite reaching the semi-finals in Russia and losing on penalties in the European Championship final, expectations on England are surprisingly low.
      That could have something to do with their recent struggles, in which they were relegated from the highest tier of the Nations League.
      England are winless in their last SIX and suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Hungary at Wembley back in June.
      However, they still boast an excellent record under Southgate at knockout competitions.
      There’s no doubting that Carlos Queiroz’s Iran are a solid outfit, and their record in qualifying suggests as much having only conceded four goals.
      But England should win the match by a single goal, in a similar fashion to their 2-1 victory over Tunisia in the last World Cup.
      If you think the favourites will prevail in the group stages, why not back England, Brazil, France and Argentina all to win their first match at a whopping 50/1 with BetVictor. Claim HERE*.
      Our tips

      England to clinch a 1-0 victory at odds of 7/2 with Betfair. New Betfair customers can back this tip and get £30 in free bets HERE*

      The much-maligned Raheem Sterling to score the opening goal at 9/2 with Sky Bet. New Sky Bet customers can back this tip and get £40 in free bets HERE*

      Bonus offers and free betsTake your pick

      Bet £10 Get Double The Odds with Grosvenor Sport – CLAIM HERE*

      New Grosvenor Sport customers who stake £10 on any sports market at any odds will get DOUBLE the winnings paid in cash!

      Get England, Brazil, France and Argentina all to win their first match at 50/1 with BetVictor – CLAIM HERE*

      BetVictor are offering new customers a sensational offer. Get England, Brazil, France and Argentina all to win their World Cup openers at 50/1!

      Bet £10 to Get £20 in free bets with Sporting Index – CLAIM HERE*

      Join Sporting Index and YOU can claim £20 in free bets to spend on football when you stake a tenner!

      Bet £10 on the Golden Boot winner and get £2 free bet any time they score or assist with Betfair – CLAIM HERE*

      Bet £10 on a World Cup FIFA Golden Boot winner and get a £2 free bet for every goal they score or assist they register!

      Senegal vs Holland
      Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal take on Holland but will be without their main man, Sadio Mane.
      The electric winger is expected to be out until March 2023 after sustaining an injury to his right fibula while playing for Bayern Munich.
      That should see Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands capitalise and continue their unbeaten record in 2022 (W6, D2).

      Our pick: Netherlands to make the most of Senegal’s lack of firepower with a 2-0 victory at odds of 11/2 with Betfair. New Betfair customers can back this tip and get £30 in free bets HERE*

      USA vs Wales
      Group B’s other contest between the US and Wales is altogether more difficult assignment to unpick.
      Their pair last went head-to-head in a friendly in 2020, with the match finish in a goalless draw.
      USA have the edge on recent form with Robert Page’s side having won just ONCE in their last seven in all competitions.
      But Wales are made for the big occasion and could open their tournament with a win.

      Our pick: Gareth Bale to shine on the world stage once again by scoring the opening goal at 5/1 with Paddy Power. New Paddy Power customers who stake £20 on football will receive their money back as CASH if they lose. Claim HERE*

      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      FOOTBALL OFFERS
      Remember to gamble responsibly
      A responsible gambler is someone who:

      Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
      Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
      Never chase their losses
      Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
      Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
      Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

      For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.

      *Sky Bet: Stake £10 on Qatar vs Ecuador and receive £40 in free bets to spend on the World Cup. New customers only. First single & EW bet only. £10 minimum stake. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 4 x £10 bet token. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets for football only. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+. Begambleaware.org
      *Brazil to win the World Cup and Neymar top goalscorer. 18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs apply. **18+. Prices subject to fluctuation and availability. T&C’s Apply. T&Cs apply.
      *Bet £10 Get Double The Odds with Grosvenor Sport. New customers only. Stake min amount of £19 (odds of 1.8 or greater) on any sporting event. Promotion available between 14/11/22 – 01/12/22. Max 4 x £10, 4 x £5, 1 x £6 Free Bets credited on qualifying bet settlement on selected events. 1x claim per customer. Void, cashed out, partially cashed out bets do not qualify. Each Way bets, system bets and profit boost are not permitted for qualifying bet. Free bets are non-withdrawable & not returned with winnings. Free bets expire after 7 days of qualifying bet settlement. T&Cs apply 18+ begambleaware.org
      *Get England, Brazil, France and Argentina all to win their first match at 50/1 with BetVictor. 18+ New Customers Only. Opt in, bet £1 on Brazil, England, France & Argentina to win their 1st match, in 7 days. No cash out. Enhanced odds paid in free bets, expire in 7 days. Offer valid until 13:00 UK time on 21/11/2022. Card payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org
      *Bet £10 to Get £20 in free bets with Sporting Index. New clients only. Applies to first £10+ bet at odds of 1/1 (2.0) of greater. Qualifying bet to be placed within 14 days of account opening. First £10 Free Bet will be issued once the qualifying bet settles. Second £10 Free Bet will be issued 24 hours later. Free Bets valid for 7 days and stake not returned. Cashed out or voided bets do not qualify. Full terms apply. 18+ begambleaware.org
      *Bet £10 on the Golden Boot winner and get £2 free bet any time they score or assist with Betfair. Applies to the first bet placed on the World Cup FIFA Golden Boot market only. Applies to bets placed from 9am Thursday November 10th until 3.59pm Sunday November 20th. Max free £2 bet per goal or assist your selection has throughout the tournament. T&Cs apply.
      *Betfair £30 in free bets. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
      *Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses. New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy’s Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
      Most read in Sport More

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Inside Qatar’s ‘vagina-shaped’ stadium that will host SIX World Cup 2022 games

      by

      ALL eight stadiums are ready to host the 2022 Qatar World Cup, however one in particular has caught the attention of the fans for the wrong reason.The Al Janoub stadium located in Al Wakrah, 12 miles south of Doha, was the first of the new stadiums to be completed in the run up to the Qatar World Cup.
      The Al Janoub stadium has caught the attention of fans due to it’s resemblance to a vagina
      However the stadium instantly caught the attention of fans in 2019 due to it’s similarities in appearances to female genitalia.
      The 40,000 seater was designed by Dame Zara Hadid, who was also involved in designing the Aquatic Centre for the London 2012 Olympics.
      Her inspiration for the aesthetic was the flowing shape of a dhow sailing boat as well as traditional Arabian pearl diving and a fishing vessel.
      Hadid was quick to bite back at fans comparing her work to the female genitalia saying: “It’s really embarrassing they come up with nonsense stuff like this.
      read more on world cup
      “What are they saying? Everything with a hole in it is a vagina? That’s ridiculous.”
      The stadium will be used to host five group stage games, the first of which being France vs Australia, as well as one round of 16 fixture.
      The Al Janoub stadium will also play host to Ghana vs Uruguay in a repeat fixture from the 2010 quarter finals which saw Luis Suarez handle the ball on the line to help push Uruguay through.
      Most read in Football
      Despite the crude remarks, the stadium will be equipped with fully functioning air-conditioning help keep the players and spectators cool in the Qatari winter heat.
      Once the competition is over, the top of the stadium will be dismantled and passed onto the developing world as part of the tournaments legacy. More

    • 188 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Furious England fans reveal how they will dodge Qatar booze ban in World Cup stadiums

      by

      DEFIANT England fans have vowed to still “get p****d” before games in the wake of Qatar’s sudden stadium booze ban. The announcement comes despite supporters previously being promised they could drink beer in stadiums throughout the tournament.
      Defiant England fans have revealed how they plan to get around Qatar’s sudden stadium alcohol ban
      Furious fans have vented after the shock booze ban announcement
      But some supporters have shared how they plan to get around the new rule
      The stunning booze ban comes just two days before the tournament kicks off.
      But while Fifa buckled under pressure from the Qatari authorities, it appears Three Lions fans won’t let it get in their way.
      One supporter told The Sun: “It won’t dampen my experience too much because I will just get p****d before the games.
      “That’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
      Read More World Cup Stories
      But not every fan had such a sunny outlook on the booze ban.
      “To be honest I am very annoyed”, said another supporter.
      “The whole time they have been telling us that you can buy booze in the stadium, which we were all very excited about.
      “Now the day before the World Cup starts we have been told we can’t buy booze there.
      Most read in Football
      “Everyone knows that English people love a drink”.
      The disappointed fan added that he now fears the ban could suck some of the atmosphere out of the stadiums.
      He said: “Before I would be buzzing before game days and get to the stadiums early and get the drinks in, to get yourself hyped up for the game.
      “Now there’s no point in getting there early.
      “Just get there when the game kicks off. No drinks to buy so it will be a sober day really.”
      The sudden alcohol U-turn comes amid fears over Qatar’s strict booze laws.
      Alcohol isn’t illegal in Qatar, but there is zero tolerance for drinking in public and being drunk in public is a crime.
      Drinking in a public place could result in a prison sentence of up to six months – and/or a fine up to QAR3,000, the equivalent of £696.29.
      Visitors could find themselves nicked for public drunkenness even if they have only had a tiny tipple, due to the unclear nature of the host nation’s alcohol laws.
      Last month, Qatar’s World Cup chief Al Khater said authorities will attempt to avoid arrests for fans that have had one too many by placing them in ‘sobering up tents’.
      Read More on The Sun
      He told Sky News: “There are plans in place for people to sober up if they’ve been drinking excessively.
      “It’s a place to make sure that they keep themselves safe, they’re not harmful to anybody else.” More

    • 188 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      3 cheap strikers who could mix it with the superstars in Dream Team World Cup

      by

      EVERY Dream Team World Cup manager wants to stack their team with superstar strikers.But that isn’t always possible when you pick a strong defence and stack your midfield with the big guns.
      And if that’s the route you’ve gone down when putting your team together, you might have to identify a bargain or two up top.
      Fear not! We’ve selected three affordable strikers who have the potential to mix it with the world’s big hitters.

      TIME IS RUNNING OUT! CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP NOW – £50,000 PRIZE POT

      Dusan Vlahovic
      Serbia will feel privately confident of their chances in QatarCredit: Reuters

      Country: Serbia
      Price: £3million

      The Juventus man could be one to watch over the course of the next few weeks.
      After a stunning 2021/22 season in which he scored 29 goals, he’s continued that fine form for The Old Lady this term (7G, 2A in 15 games).
      Serbia finished ahead of Portugal in qualifying and have a strong attack with Vlahovic likely to lead the line alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Filip Kostic, Dusan Tadic and Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic providing the service.
      Mitrovic is the much more fancied out the pair by Dream Team World Cup bosses but given Vlahovic is £1million cheaper than his strike partner, he fits the bill for those in need of a bargain.
      Steven Bergwijn
      Netherlands have a favourable groupCredit: EPA

      Country: Netherlands
      Price: £4million

      Netherlands should not be underestimated this winter and neither should their No7.
      Bergwijn has eight goals and three assists for Ajax this season and his form at international level has been equally as impressive.
      The ex-Spurs forward has six goals in his last nine international games, benefiting from Louis van Gaal’s attacking tactics.
      The Oranje should storm their way through their group which also includes Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal sans Sadio Mane.
      Breel Embolo
      He could be the Breel dealCredit: Reuters

      Country: Switzerland
      Price: £3.5million

      Switzerland may well be dark horses in Qatar.
      Not only did they top Italy in qualifying, they’ve beaten Portugal and Spain already this year.
      Embolo scored against Luis Enrique’s side and he’ll be the man to lead the line for his nation in the coming weeks.
      He has eight goals and four assists for Monaco so far this campaign which is a more than respectable return on top of three goals and three assists in his four appearances in an injury-hit qualification campaign.

      TIME IS RUNNING OUT! CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP NOW – £50,000 PRIZE POT More

    • 113 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Why does Cristiano Ronaldo do his new ‘sleeping’ celebration?

      by

      RENOWNED for his iconic “Siu”, Cristiano Ronaldo has debuted his new ‘sleeping’ celebration which has got the world talking.CR7’s trusty ‘Siu” celebration has become a fan favourite, often echoing around stadiums after scoring for both club and country.
      Cristiano Ronaldo performing the ‘Siu’ in front of the Old Trafford faithfulCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Spectators in Qatar will be hoping to witness the celebration live and in person, however it seems as though Portugal’s star man has found a new way to celebrate.
      After introducing the world to his new ‘sleeping’ celebration earlier on in the season, Ronaldo has fans in speculation on what it could mean.
      Why does Ronaldo do his new ‘sleeping’ celebration?
      After first performing the celebration after netting the winner during Manchester United’s 2-1 win against Everton in October, fans believed the celebration could be a nod to him finally scoring his 700th club career goal or even a dig at manager Erik Ten Haag for making him a regular on the bench.
      However club media at Manchester United has since revealed the pose to be an inside joke between the club legend and the other players, with the position replicating how Ronaldo sleeps when travelling with the squad.
      read more on Cristiano Ronaldo
      United released a statement reading: “We can now reveal that Ronaldo’s celebration was a self-deprecating in-joke with his fellow team-mates, highlighting the strong bonds among the players in Erik ten Hag’s squad.”
      They continued “CR7’s celebration at Everton was amusingly a nod to the position in which he sleeps when travelling with the squad, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by his team-mates who are all eager to learn from him.”
      Just like the “Siu”, fans and players have copied the icon’s new pose, including teammate Alejandro Garnacho who asked Ronaldo personally if he could use the celebration.
      With this now in his locker, fans will be left to speculate which celebration he will use if he is able to score for Portugal during the World Cup.
      Most read in Football
      Ronaldo isn’t the only player at the world cup with an iconic celebration however, as Kylian Mbappe’s arms crossed as well as Lionel Messi’s point to the sky.
      All three will be strong contenders looking to claim the golden boot, showing off their much loved celebrations in the meantime. More