Jamie Vardy's life has not changed as much as you might expect, with the Leicester City striker's focus on family and football keeping his feet on the ground during a whirlwind period.
Eyebrows were raised last summer when Roy Hodgson handed the 29-year-old his maiden call-up, just five years after playing for non-league Stocksbridge Park Steels and, on occasion, The Anvil pub team in Sheffield.
It was surprise recognition that Vardy has justified in some style this season, hitting 19 goals in Leicester’s remarkable title tilt.
The striker's record run of netting in 11 successive Premier League matches saw his star rise further, not that his life is any different.
“I wouldn’t know, I don’t really leave the house,” Vardy said when asked how his life has changed.
“Literally train, home, kids, dogs, my missus and it is time to go to bed.
“You do get that chance (to reflect) when you are at home, but that is when you want to relax and forget about it for a bit if you can.
“As soon as you get back to training, or stepping over that white line, that is when you are fully focused on your football.”
Vardy has gone from somewhat of a novelty figure to Premier League star since making his England debut against Ireland last June, although he does not feel his international teammates treat him any differently now.
“I don’t think the lads are like that at all,” he said. “Everyone is sound and a quite close-knit, to be honest, even though we are at different clubs.
“There is none of that that goes off. I feel exactly the same.”
This time Vardy is joined in the England squad by teammate Danny Drinkwater, who is in line to make his senior debut against Germany this weekend.
“When you come into this environment, the lads all make you welcome straight away,” he said.
“You are there for a reason and the boss tells you exactly why he has picked you.
“He doesn’t want you to change anything, he just wants you to do exactly what you have been doing week in, week out for your club.
“If I had any advice for Danny, it would just be do exactly the same as what he has been doing.”
Saturday’s friendly in Berlin against the world champions could see Vardy lead the England line for the first time after injury saw the striker denied that chance in the last meet-up.
“I am happy to play wherever the boss thinks I am best adapted to or whatever he thinks suits the formation we are playing,” Vardy, capped four times, said when asked about that prospect.
“It is an absolute honour to play for your country and if that means that I am playing in a position I am not playing week in, week out I am more than happy to do so.
“Wherever the boss wants me to play, I will always give 100 per cent in that position. I always will do. That is just the type of player that I am.”
That personality could soon be the subject of a Hollywood film – “I asked him if he was mad,” Vardy said of meeting the interested screenwriter – that could yet finish with the dream ending.
Leicester are five points clear at the Premier League summit with just seven matches remaining and closest challengers Tottenham Hotspur have five players in the England squad.
“We have had a chat but not about anything football-wise,” Vardy said. “We have been talking about England and Call of Duty.
“We have not all played on it together yet, but I got informed earlier that one of the lads just camps in a corner and waits for someone to run past him so he can get him.”
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The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Honeymoonish
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Bournemouth 0
Manchester United 2
Smalling (28'), Lukaku (70')
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
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Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
RESULTS
5pm: Watha Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Dalil De Carrere, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Pharitz Al Denari, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mahmood Hussain
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Oss, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: AF Almajhaz, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: AF Lewaa, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Bayern Munich 5 Eintrracht Frankfurt 2
Bayern: Goretzka (17'), Müller (41'), Lewandowski (46'), Davies (61'), Hinteregger (74' og)
Frankfurt: Hinteregger (52', 55')
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani