Sunday Mail (UK)

Sturgeon backs England for cup

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Nicola Sturgeon yesterday urged England’s football team to follow her lead – by lifting the World Cup.

The First Minister congratula­ted Gareth Southgate and his side on their victory in Samara with a supportive tweet.

In reference to the “It’s Coming Home” slogan doing the rounds on social media, she posted a photo of her with the gilded trophy and said: “It’s home already (well, we can dream!!) – very well done, England.”

Ahead of the match, Sturgeon said she didn’t want to back England because the last country she wished good luck to had crashed out of the competitio­n.

She joked at the FutureFest conference in London on Friday: “I would wish England all the very best, but I should tell you that the last time I wished a country good luck in the World Cup I was in Berlin, so that didn’t work out very well.”

Before it started, the SNP leader said she would be backing Iceland to win after picking them in her work sweepstake.

She didn’t say if she’ll be cheering England on in their semi-final on Wednesday. After he withdrew from Wimbledon because of an ongoing hip injury, Aberdeen Standard Investment­s confirmed they will not renew their deal with the tennis star. An ASI spokeswoma­n said their four-yeyear partnershi­p had come tot “a natural end”. She added: “Andy is a worldworld- class athlete and an outstoutst­anding ambassador for tennis.te We wish him well for ththe future.” ThThe former world No1, 31, hash missed four Grand SlamSlams in a row because of his injury, which needed susurgery in January. He r e t u r ne d to cocompetit­ive action at QQueen’s Club in London aand at Eastbourne last mmonth but struggled

 ??  ?? IT’S MINE Sturgeon GAME’S UP Murray practises last week before telling fans on social media that he won’t play, below
IT’S MINE Sturgeon GAME’S UP Murray practises last week before telling fans on social media that he won’t play, below

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