World Cup 2018: The Cup That Cheers All

Football Fever Grips Bankers

The football fever has taken over the banking sector too in England, according to a report.

Britain’s top central bankers held an unusual vote during their policy deliberations recently – to decide which country is most likely to win the World Cup taking place in Russia, says a Reuter report.

Switzerland – which achieved an unexpected draw against five-time world champion Brazil on Sunday – was one team picked, but Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said he would wait until his home country Canada co-hosted the World Cup in 2026 before revealing the full results.

“Unfortunately for you, but fortunately for some Monetary Policy Committee members, the result is sealed along with the rest of the transcript. Transparency only goes so far,” he joked at a black-tie dinner in London’s financial district..

Full details of the MPC’s regular policy discussions – which more typically revolve around British interest rates – are only published eight years after they have taken place.

“You will have to wait until 2026 to find out which MPC member’s knowledge of football matches their understanding of the UK economy,” Carney said.

The Hand Of God Burns His Fingers

The “Hand of God” has dipped his fingers into shame at the World Cup 2018 in Russia, says a report.

Argentina great Diego Maradona said he was fine after appearing to take ill during the South Americans’ roller-coaster World Cup win over Nigeria on Tuesday, but found himself in hot water again after making an obscene gesture at the game, says a Reuters report.

“I want to let you know I’m fine, I’m not nor was I hospitalised,” the 57-year-old said.

Maradona, who was seen being helped to walk from his seat amid the excitement of Tuesday’s game in St. Petersburg, said a doctor had suggested he left at halftime after his neck hurt and he felt he might faint.

“A kiss for you all, sorry for the fright, thanks for putting up with me, Diego is around for a bit longer!”

During the game, Maradona drew attention with his antics in the stands — lapping up the adulation from fans, unveiling a poster of himself and seemingly falling asleep at one point.

Then, after Marcos Rojo’s 86th minute winner secured Argentina’s place in the last 16, he made a middle-finger gesture with both hands.

Peruvians Throng In Large Numbers

The World Cup has also revealed how fans react to the high and lows of their teams, says a report.

The Peruvians are there in huge numbers, about 80,00, the Senegalese danced their way through their country’s first match, and the Japanese cleaned the stadium after the national team’s opening game. England fans have, however, been far less noticeable than one would normally expect, says a report in The Conversation.

Whether it’s because of the Skripal poisonings in Salisbury or the threat of Russian hooligan violence, ahead of the tournament England’s fans had only bought 31,000 World Cup tickets between them. Even so, this still placed them in a list of the top 11 countries purchasing tickets.

Pogba’s Girlfriend Sparks Rumours

A top French footballer may be got engaged to his girlfriend, according to a report.

Paul Pogba has sparked rumours he is the latest World Cup star to get engaged as his girlfriend Maria Salaues showed up to the France game sporting an engagement ring.

The 23-year-old Bolivian was in the stands for France’s final World Cup group game against Denmark, says a Sun report

Photographers zoomed in on her as she sat, noticing that she was sporting a band on her engagement finger.

Salaues and Pogba began dating over a year ago and went public during the Manchester United star’s holiday in Los Angeles, where they were spotted out together in public.