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      England’s 26-man World Cup squad to receive text TWO HOURS before announcement with Southgate loyal to Euro 2020 stars

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      ENGLAND stars will today receive a magical midday World Cup text.The 26-man squad are set to all get early confirmation they are booked on the plane to Qatar ahead of manager Gareth Southgate’s official announcement at 2pm.
      Gareth Southgate is due to name his England squad for the World Cup in QatarCredit: Getty
      Tottenham striker Harry Kane is set to be on the plane to QatarCredit: Getty
      Boss Southgate is looking to stick with the players who helped him reach the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020.
      It means there are unlikely to be many shocks, although Newcastle striker Callum Wilson is hoping for a call-up.
      And that could be bad news for Roma’s Tammy Abraham, who has struggled with his form in Italy this season.
      Ivan Toney and Jarrod Bowen also face heartbreak but Wilson, 30, could be rewarded for his decent record for Newcastle, having scored six times.
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      It would still be a gamble as his fourth and final England cap came three years ago.
      Kyle Walker, who has not played since October 2 after suffering a groin problem for Manchester City, is hopeful he will be among the players heading to the Middle East, along with team-mate Kalvin Phillips who has also been out for most of the season.
      Southgate will be able to wait until Monday, after the weekend games, before giving his final list to Fifa.
      England fly to Qatar on Tuesday with the opener against Iran six days later.
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      Southgate admits that due to squads enlarged from 23 to 26, he can take a fitness gamble with a couple of players.
      He did the same with Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson ahead of Euro 2020.
      But the Three Lions boss is unlikely to pick many players on standby.He said: “I wouldn’t imagine too many would be needed on a standby list, because by that point we should have a pretty clear picture, bar the last game.
      “We’ll work out the day depending on some of the other matches.”There has been a call for players such as in-form Leicester midfielder James Maddison to be included.
      Marcus Rashford has not played for England since missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final but he hopes to get the nod after showing glimpses of his old self for Manchester United.
      Yet Southgate has been frustrated by the amount of times he has withdrawn from England squads.
      He picked Rashford for two World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino in November last year.
      Rashford withdrew with an illness but five days after the 10-0 win at San Marino, he started United’s 4-1 loss at Watford.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold will make it due to the absence of crocked right-back Reece James and left-back Ben Chilwell.
       ENGLAND SQUAD (possible): Pickford, Ramsdale, Pope, Alexander-Arnold, Trippier, Walker, White, Maguire, Stones, Coady, Dier, Shaw, Tomori, Bellingham, Henderson, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Phillips, Foden, Sterling, Mount, Grealish, Saka, Kane, Wilson, Rashford. More

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      Chelsea boss Graham Potter warns Premier League giants NOT to expect World Cup stars back for Boxing Day fixtures

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      THE bosses of the 20 Premier League clubs have been warned not to expect all their World Cup stars back for the Boxing Day restart.Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva was among 12 England-based Brazilian players selected, with eight top-flight Argentines also heading for Qatar.
      Thiago Silva will play for Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar.Credit: Getty
      And Graham Potter suggested managers should not expect players who make the December 18 final to be available for the Prem’s restart.
      The Stamford Bridge boss said: “I don’t know what the motivation of another human will be after a World Cup.
      “Most people who have won it celebrate on open-top buses — and then need a three-week holiday to recover.
      “I could be selfish and say we need them back.
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      “But if they don’t celebrate and they have to come back here it will be difficult. They have to recover emotionally.
      “And if you’ve lost the final it’s going to take more than three or four days to get over it.”
      Meanwhile, ITV pundits including Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Joe Cole will be able to avoid the make-up humiliation of their World Cup precessors back in 1994.
      In a break from tradition, ITV will present their views from the stadiums rather than having a Doha backdrop.
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      The pundits will be able to see patterns of play in temperatures that will touch 30C in the group phase.
      And unlike Denis Law, Ron Atkinson and Co 28 years ago, they will be allowed to show off a healthy glow.
      In 1994, ITV were in Dallas but execs were worried that the pundits seemed like they had been enjoying the sun too much.
      Orders from the top saw them plastered in talcum powder so they looked more pallid. More

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      Man Utd icon Ferdinand fears for England at World Cup as he predicts ‘worst-case scenario’ with ‘Achilles heel’ Maguire

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      RIO FERDINAND believes England are facing a “worst-case scenario” by relying on Harry Maguire at the World Cup when he is short of form and fitness.And the ex-Three Lions centre-back predicts Gareth Southgate’s deficiencies in defence will be our “Achilles heel” out in Qatar.
      Harry Maguire is expected to be named in England’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar despite a lack of game-time at Man UtdCredit: Getty
      Rio Ferdinand thinks that Maguire could be England’s Achilles heel in the backline at the World Cup.Credit: Reuters
      Southgate has stood by Maguire during the Manchester United man’s nightmare season where he has lost his starting spot at Old Trafford and struggled with a thigh injury.
      The England boss has pointed out that Maguire played a huge role in the nation’s successful runs in the last two major tournaments — and will back his man at the upcoming finals.
      Ferdinand can understand that loyalty — even if it may be “blind trust” — but is concerned about the number of defenders with recent injury problems set to be named in the squad.
      Manchester City’s Kyle Walker looks as if he will win his race against a groin injury but Chelsea pair Reece James and Ben Chilwell are out.Ferdinand, 43, admitted: “Harry has not let England down ever. He’s been phenomenal for England.
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      “But his form has gone out the window for Man Utd. He’s not in the team, he’s got an injury as well.
      “Going into a tournament, I couldn’t think of another worst-case scenario. I would be concerned about that.
      “You can go in there with one, maybe, like that. But we’ve got Walker and Maguire in the defensive line who are potentially going to be going in there off the back of injuries and a lack of form.”
      Ferdinand won 81 caps in his 14 years playing for England.
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      Being such a great player meant the likes of Jonathan Woodgate and Jamie Carragher rarely got a look-in — two players who surely would rack up the appearances if they were playing today.
      Were there such depth at centre-back available to the current Three Lions boss, Ferdinand does not believe he would be so reliant on Maguire.
      He added: “He trusts him. It could be blind trust, I don’t know. But he does trust him. As a manager you’re going to go with what you know, with what you’re comfortable with.
      “The problem he’s got is it’s not like he has four or five other candidates like in my generation where you’d be able to go ‘he’s out of form’ or ‘he’s not playing’ or ‘he’s injured’.
      “I had Sol Campbell, Carragher, Woodgate, Ledley King, the list goes on. All of those players start today.
      “I’ve always thought if you’re going to win a tournament, you’ve got to have a good defence.
      “That’s where we’re probably at our weakest now. Even if there weren’t injuries or lack of form, I feel like that was our weakest area anyway.
      “Walker, our quickest defender, out. Maguire, form and injuries. When you’re looking at it, you’re thinking, ‘What are we going to do?’ Is (Trevoh) Chalobah going to be ready? He’s playing really well. But last month it was (Fikayo) Tomori. Before that it was (Marc) Guehi.
      “There’s no one in there that you go, ‘They jump out as the No 1 candidates to go and play’. So it’s very difficult. That could in the end be our Achilles heel.”
      Despite his reservations over the Three Lions’ backline, Ferdinand still reckons a successful tournament for England can only be defined if they come back with the trophy next month.
      It is what he sees as the next step after reaching the semi-finals in Russia and the final at Euro 2020.
      He said: “If you base it on the last two tournaments of semis and then final, surely the progression has to be to win it.
      “Anything less is going to be seen as a bit underwhelming because you are looking at the trajectory and the FA’s plans would have been that.”
      To win it, England would most likely have to win a quarter-final against reigning champions France, who are many people’s tip, including Ferdinand’s, for the title.
      There are some that believe that whatever happens this could be Southgate’s final tournament in charge, despite being contracted until 2024.
      The Three Lions chief copped flak over the summer for a run of six Nations League games without a win which included a 4-0 hiding at home to Hungary.
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      Yet Ferdinand added: “I don’t know how seriously they take the Nations League. But he’s earned the grace from what he’s done. For just morale, given what we’ve been through.“He was that close, a whisker away from winning the Euros. He’s taken us to heights that we’ve not seen since 1966, in two tournaments.
      “He obviously knows how to get through to the latter stages of a tournament. What are you going to get rid of that for?”*Rio Ferdinand’s Tipping Point launches tomorrow exclusively on Prime Video. More

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      Stuart Pearce backs Gareth Southgate to make right calls when naming England World Cup squad despite selection headache

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      STUART PEARCE has told Gareth Southgate to ignore the noise and stick to his gut when it comes to his England squad selection.The Three Lions’ 26-man travelling party for the Qatar World Cup will be announced on Thursday after months of anticipation and debate.
      Gareth Southgate has been backed to make the right calls with his England squad announcementCredit: Reuters
      Stuart Pearce believes everyone should have faith in Southgate’s selectionCredit: The Sun
      The England boss has some big calls to make, including whether to pick the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, James Maddison and Ivan Toney.
      Southgate has been criticised in the past for playing it too safe with his selections, especially heading into major tournaments.
      But ex-England defender Pearce – who made 78 appearances for his country – says his old teammate’s record of getting it right are clear for all to see.
      Asked if Southgate needs to stick to his gut, Pearce said: “Exactly that. We are doing a lot of things right.
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      “If we roll the clock back to last April or May and asked the same question, I don’t think there would be any doubters.
      “What we have had is a tough Nations League on the back of a really long season. That tells you everything.
      “But we have one of the most level people we will ever have in charge of our national team.
      “He is a brilliant ambassador for the nation and I personally think whilst he comes across as an affable person, which he is, he also makes tough judgement calls.
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      “He understands that whatever team he picks, he will potentially get criticised.
      “But, he has got most of his team selections correct over time. You don’t get to finals or semi-finals unless you have.”
      The competition for places will see several big stars left at home, but Pearce believes that should only be viewed as a positive for English football.
      He said: “If we all knew which team and which squad were going, that means we haven’t got a wealth of players.
      “Someone like James Maddison hasn’t been picked in the last few squads but he has been playing well. Ivan Toney is playing well for his club, Callum Wilson too.
      “There are certain players outside the last squad that are actually not getting in. The more players we have vying for spots in the squad, it has got to be a good thing.”
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      Pearce feels Southgate’s biggest dilemma is whether to include Leicester playmaker Maddison after his surge in form, adding: “For James, the problem is playing in a position where we have so much talent. Gareth will be aware of that.”
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      World Cup fans hoping to dodge £13-a-pint prices face a Qatar happy-hour ban

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      WORLD Cup fans face the sobering prospect of a Qatar happy-hour ban.England and Wales supporters had hoped to dodge £13-a-pint prices.
      Licenced hotels fear they will be overwhelmed by more than a million thirsty fansCredit: Getty
      But licenced hotels, the only places normally selling booze in the Muslim desert state, fear they will be overwhelmed by more than a million thirsty footie followers from around the globe.
      And leading chains have responded by banning popular happy-hour reductions.
      They have also axed boozy “bottomless” brunches — or have ramped up the prices.
      Friday and Saturday brunch prices at the Four Seasons Hotel bar in the capital Doha will soar from £130 to £306 for the tournament.
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      Its happy hours offering all-you-can-drink bottled beer for £42 have been halted.
      The five-star Kempinski has stopped cut-price sessions too, charging £11 a bottle instead of a “bargain” £8.40.
      A Four Seasons worker said: “We wouldn’t cope if thousands tried to take advantage of our happy hours.”
      Fan zone prices have yet to be set. Insiders estimate £7-a-pint.
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      1966 coin is tossed up in sale
      THE coin used for the toss before the 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley is up for auction.
      Memorabilia collector Bryan Horsnell was given it directly by Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst.
      The 1966-dated coin may fetch up to £2,000 at a World Cup Memorabilia sale in London next week.
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      Hundreds of lots include Sir Geoff Hurst’s 1970 shirt, which could sell for £3,000.
      A Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to 1966 commentary legend and RAF volunteer Kenneth Wolstenholme is set to go for at least £10,000. More

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      Wales squad for 2022 World Cup named as boss Rob Page admits Gareth Bale might NOT play against England in group stage

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      WALES have announced their World Cup squad with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey set to lead the charge in Qatar. Rob Page has announced his 26-man team a day before Gareth Southgate will do the same – but has admitted star man Bale may not play every group stage game.
      Gareth Bale is looking to lead Wales to World Cup glory when he takes the Dragons to QatarCredit: Getty
      The Dragons’ squad saw no major shocks or admissions but Ipswich’s Wes Burns and QPR loanee Tyler Roberts were the biggest names to miss out on the trip to Qatar.
      There had also been doubts over Joe Allen after the midfielder missed Swansea’s last 10 games with injury.
      But the 32-year-old has made the squad despite his fitness issues.
      Page has admitted he does not know if Bale can play every game with the 33-year-old short on match fitness after his summer move to America.
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      Asked if Bale can play against England, the US and Iran, he said: “That’s the million dollar question. We don’t know, we’ll assess each game as it comes.
      “We’re fully focused on the first game. Hopefully we get off to a positive start, which is not losing the game (against the USA).
      “We’ll have a plan moving forward for the second one. If he’s part of that, great. If he’s not, we’ll manage the minutes.”
      Premier League names such as the Nottingham Forest duo Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams, Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham and Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu are all part of the squad.
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      Wales’ World Cup campaign begins in only 12 days with a highly-anticipated clash with the USA in Group B on November 21.
      Four days later they play Iran in a game Page and co will be targeting for three points.
      And then they face England in the huge battle of Britain game on November 29.
      Wales squad
      Goalkeepers:Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Stoke City).
      Defenders: Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Joe Rodon (Rennes, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Ethan Ampadu (Spezia, on loan from Chelsea), Chris Gunter (AFC Wimbledon), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Tom Lockyer (Luton Town).
      Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey (Nice), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth), Dylan Levitt (Dundee United), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City), Jonny Williams (Swindon Town), Matthew Smith (Milton Keynes Dons), Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield Town).
      Forwards: Gareth Bale (Los Angeles FC), Dan James (Fulham, on loan from Leeds United), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest). More

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      Explosive Netflix doc alleges Qatar World Cup chief ‘offered THREE African nations £1.3m to back 2022 bid’

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      A MEMBER of Qatar’s World Cup bid has sensationally claimed three African officials were offered money to back the Arab nation in its bid for the tournament.They are claimed to have been offered £1.3million in exchange for their vote.
      Qatar were confirmed as 2022 World Cup hosts in 2010Credit: AP
      Hassan Al Thawadi is alleged to have offered money to three African nationsCredit: AP
      Phaedra Almajid, in charge of international press for the bid, made the allegations in the explosive new Netflix series, Fifa Uncovered.
      Qatar won hosting rights for the 2022 tournament in a Fifa vote ahead of Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the USA.
      And Almaji alleges Hassan Al Thawadi, the head of the bid, offered money to Fifa chiefs from Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Nigeria in order to secure their vote.
      Al Thawadi is now Secretary General of the Supreme Committee in charge of the 2022 World Cup.
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      He is claimed to have made the offer to Issa Hayatou (Cameroon), Jacques Anouma (Ivory Coast), and Amos Adamu (Nigeria).
      Almajid told the doc: “We were talking about how Africa had been given its chance to host the World Cup and how the Arab world should be given their chance, and then Hassan offered Hayatou $1 million for Hayatou’s football federation [Cameroon] and in return we wanted his vote.
      “I remember there just being laughter and then him saying that is not enough, and so the price was upped to $1.5 million (£1.3m) — just like that. It was just so simple: ‘We will give you this money for your football federation, you give us your vote and thank you so much.’
      “One by one we did the same thing with Anouma and Adamu. $1.5 million was offered to each member that evening in exchange for their vote. It was verbal, I never saw money.”
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      Almajid alleges the offer came at a meeting of African football federations in January 2010, just under a year before the Fifa vote for the 2022 host nation.
      All three African officials have denied any wrongdoing.
      Almajid claims the proposed money was made to the federations, rather than the individuals themselves.
      She added: “It was made very clear the money was going to football, it was never said it is going into your pocket, I do need to emphasise that. Where it ended up I have no idea.
      “Before I went back to my hotel room, Hassan told me, ‘You never repeat this ever again to anyone’ and I was like, ‘OK.’”
      Al Thawadi has strongly denied the claims.
      He said: “My reaction, especially on the Phaedra situation, it’s frustration.”
      “They are inherently false and there are facts on the ground that prove they are false.”
      Almajid anonymously revealed the alleged offers to the Sunday Times after being sacked by Qatar’s bid, and later signed a statement withdrawing her claims.
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      Detailing why, Almajid explained in the doc: “I’m starting to get threats, anonymous calls, emails, social media.
      “I was basically told either you sign an affidavit stating that you lied or else we are legally going to come after you.” More

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      Fans all say same thing as Harry Kane bizarrely starts Carabao Cup clash vs Nottingham Forest just days before World Cup

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      FANS fear for Harry Kane’s World Cup wellbeing after the Tottenham star was named in tonight’s Carabao Cup XI against Nottingham Forest.Kane will lead England out at Qatar 2022 this month against Iran, USA and Wales.
      Spurs and England fans fear for Harry Kane after he started the Carabao Cup game against Nottingham ForestCredit: Reuters
      The striker’s goals will surely prove key to the Three Lions’ success, having fired Gareth Southgate to a World Cup semi and Euros final in the past.
      However, Antonio Conte decided to infuriate the English public on Wednesday by including Kane in his Spurs side at Forest.
      The Carabao Cup third round clash is the second-to-last game in the calendar before teams break for the World Cup.
      And many England and Tottenham fans had been convinced that Kane would play no role against the Prem’s bottom side.
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      They were indeed left shocked when Conte put forward a strong XI, including Kane up top.
      And it led to almost all supporters saying the same thing on Twitter, with everyone hoping and praying Kane will avoid injury at the Forest Ground.
      One fan declared: “Appreciate the gesture Harry Kane but it’s genuinely fine if you want to take this one at walking pace.”
      Another yelled: “So are we taking this seriously? This line-up seems like we are. Kane hasn’t had a break in how long?!”
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      One gasped: “I know we have injuries but we are running Kane into the ground, every minute of every game.”
      Another boomed: “Risking Kane! World Cup we need him!”
      One added: “Not happy. Kane on the verge of tearing a hamstring. Played every game since October.” More