Menacing 12-mile-high ash cloud looms over Indonesia's 'Mountain of Spirits' after volcano erupts

This is incredible moment a huge volcano known as 'Mountain of Spirits' erupted in Indonesia, sending ash spewing an estimated 12 miles into the sky.

The powerful explosion took place at Mount Sangeang Api in the Lesser Sunda Islands - an area that plays host to 129 active volcanoes - and sent a distinctive spaceship-shaped ring of pyroclastic smoke high into the air.

The photographs were taken by professional photographer Sofyan Efendi during a commercial flight from Bali to the fishing town of Labuan Bajo in West Nusa Tenggara province.

Scores of farmers who work but do not live on the island were ordered to leave and not return until the volcano has finished erupting, said Muhammad Hendrasto, head of Indonesia's National Volcanology Agency. There are not believed to have been any deaths or injuries as a result of the eruption.

Authorities have had Mount Sangiang Api on high alert for almost a year, he told China's Xinhua news agency.

The volcano sits in Indonesia's notorious 'Ring of Fire' - an area where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It has 452 volcanoes - 75 per cent of the world's total.

Since Sangiang Api's first recorded eruption in 1512, it is believed to have erupted a total of 20 times.

Eruption: The powerful explosion took place at Mount Sangeang Api in the Lesser Sunda Islands - an area that plays host to 129 active volcanoes. The Sunda Islands sit inside Indonesia's notorious 'Ring of Fire'. Since Sangiang Api's first recorded eruption in 1512, it is believed to have erupted a total of 20 times

Eerie: After erupting, the volcano sent a distinctive spaceship-shaped ring of pyroclastic smoke high into the air. Pilots in the area reported seeing the cloud rising to 65,000 feet, spreading over a 25 mile area

Stunning: The photographs were taken by professional photographer Sofyan Efendi during a commercial flight from Bali to the fishing town of Labuan Bajo

Cloud: The volcano sits in Indonesia's notorious 'Ring of Fire' - an area where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It has 452 volcanoes - 75 per cent of the world's total

Safety concerns: Scores of farmers who work but do not live on the island were ordered to leave and not return until the volcano has finished erupting

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Bacary Sagna should be fondly remembered at Arsenal... unlike fellow former Gunners RVP, Nasri and Adebayor

Another year gone, and another Arsenal first-team player has opted for pastures new. But unlike Robin van Persie two years ago, Bacary Sagna should not be subject to abuse.
The right back announced on Thursday that it was a certainty he will be leaving this summer, declining the club's final three-year contract offer of £80,000-a-week.
And even though Sagna looks to be joining a host of former Gunners at Manchester City, it's hard to blame a player who has been a loyal servant at the Emirates Stadium.

Time to go: Bacary Sagna has confirmed he will leave Arsenal in the summer

Silver lining: Sagna ended his Arsenal career by winning the FA Cup

The France defender was signed for £7.5million in 2006, and has fought admirably during a eight-year stint which has provided little success.
Signing on with the hope of joining Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires as Les Bleus who  lifted multiple trophies in north London, a fourth-place finish and limited European joy was the new realistic target.
In the midst of the lowest lows, Sagna was always one who would roll his sleeves up, never give in and urge team-mates to pick themselves up. It's no wonder Arsene Wenger was so keen to break his 'no long contract for over-30s' rule to keep one of his most consistent performers.
Sportsmail understands a £150,000-a-week deal with City has been lined up, leading to many Arsenal fans to criticise Sagna for 'showing no respect' and taking one final pay check.
But after eight years of being heralded as one of the best full backs in the league with barely anything in the shape of trophies to back that up, is it not just one final challenge for a player still at his peak?
Put simply, if it was about moving for silverware (as Samir Nasri justifies his move to Manchester City) right now is not the time to do it.

Leaving under a cloud: Samir Nasri left Arsenal for Manchester City

All worth it: Nasri has won two Premier League titles since his move to City

ROBIN VAN PERSIE IN 2011

'Anything we win here will come from the heart and that’s what I want.
'It’s my dream and I see no point in speaking about other teams when I have these dreams.
'I think other people know that about me; I’m just hungry to win with Arsenal and that’s it.'

Sagna's reaction at the end of that FA Cup final win, nine years after their last triumph, said it all. Success is all he wanted at a club he obviously loves, and now he's got that, why not let him respond to other club's advances? He, and the fans, have got what they wanted.
After one of his finest seasons in an Arsenal shirt battling back from injury, it's the least Sagna deserves.
This stance was not applicable to Robin van Persie, Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor's exits, though.
Van Persie, back in 2011, said: 'I’m sure I could win things at another team in another country, but would it feel like our trophy, my trophy? I’m not sure it would.
'Anything we win here will come from the heart and that’s what I want. It’s my dream and I see no point in speaking about other teams when I have these dreams. I think other people know that about me; I’m just hungry to win with Arsenal and that’s it.'
Those quotes - along with the pictures of Van Persie surrounded by Arsenal bedsheets and posters as a youngster - were music to fans' ears at the time, but now seem fake and twisted.
The club stuck by the Dutchman through countless seasons as he struggled with various knocks, but after one-and-a-half injury-free seasons scoring goals he had made his decision.
A move to Manchester United followed, and Van Persie even went on to write an open letter to Arsenal criticising their ambition. The respect was long gone after that.

Time to go: Robin van Persie left Arsenal after questioning their ambition

Landing the big one: Van Persie won the Premier League in his first season

Nasri had the chance to be the 'next Cesc Fabregas' after the Spaniard left for his boyhood club Barcelona (something he always admitted he was planning to do). Nasri could have been the hero of a side in need of one, he could have repaid Wenger for putting trust in him at such a young age.
He has been accused of taking the 'easy way out' of Arsenal, quitting as soon as some sort of crisis became apparent, and as soon as a suitable club threw money at him.
The departure of Adebayor - along with Kolo Toure and Gael Clichy - wasn't so critical on the pitch, but the Togolese angered fans with his attitude (and not least for sprinting the length of the pitch to celebrate a goal for Manchester City against Arsenal back in 2009).
He constantly flirted with AC Milan, and in fact Wenger was fortunate to pocket £25m for the striker.

On his way: Emmanuel Adebayor left Arsenal to join Manchester City

Bad move: Adebayor celebrates scoring for City in front of the Arsenal fans

All this is in such contrast to Sagna, who was humble about his exit. Take his quotes in L'Equipe: 'It was an honour to grow in the shirt,' he said. 'Arsenal is a club that brought me a lot, both as a person and as a sportsman. Even though we had been criticised for quite some time due to the lack of trophies, I spent some magical moments (at Arsenal). If I had to do, I’d do it again.'
Out of all that, his admission that he would do it again really stands out. At 31 years of age, the time is right for Sagna to bow out, and Arsenal can look for a younger, and perhaps cheaper alternative.
Serge Aurier, Calum Chambers and Atsito Uchida have been linked with a move, but they will find it hard to match Sagna's ability, not least his dedication.
The time is right for a thanks, and good luck.

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Arsene Wenger on his Arsenal future, Transfer plans and how the club plans to move forward after signing contract extension

I want to stay and to continue to develop the team and the club. I think I can do that and the club shares the same view so I will of course put full commitment in to try to do it. on his new contract showing the faith the club has in him…
Yes, because the club has always shown faith in me and I'm very grateful for that. We have gone through fantastic periods and periods where we have to stick together and every time when that togetherness was tested I got the right response. I think I have shown some loyalty as well towards this club and hopefully we can make some more history. I am sure we can.
on building another great Arsenal team…
It's time for another one [to emerge]. It's the start of a new team and I believe [the FA Cup] victory was crucial in that belief. We have shown signs the whole season that we can be a great side and now it's [important] of course to have another successful season. We know we have to… have a successful June and July, that's where you strengthen the team. It's very important that we are good now in the next two months until the end of August, that we can give to the team some more quality and go into next season with the belief we got from [the FA Cup] win.

It's the start of a new team and I believe [the FA Cup] victory was crucial in that belief

on the fans expecting a big summer…
Yes, they should expect that. What I can promise is that we work very hard on a market that is very, very congested with many people who have a lot of money. But we have a big advantage, players want to join us and if we find the right quality I'm sure we can strengthen the team.
on the club being in a strong position…
I believe so because the fact that we have built a stadium, the fact that we have paid a big part of the debt back and the weight of the debt back now is not as strong and heavy as it was before. The fact that the Financial Fair Play rule comes in hopefully will stop [the] craziness that happened on this [transfer] market. With these two [things] together, I think we can fight on a more even level than before.
on this being Arsenal's time…
We fight for that, we want moments like this [cup success] every year. We were close, it was a very close race in the Premier League and in the FA Cup we won it. We had a very hard run in the FA Cup when you look at the teams we played. We have shown remarkable consistency and spirit the whole season. We were a bit short in the end to win the Premier League but at least we have shown some quality.
on his message to the fans…
My overall is message is personally I'm very grateful to the support the club has. This has become an immense club with the support we've got all over the world, and personally on behalf of everybody here at the club, the directors, the staff, the players, we are very grateful and thankful for that.

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JAN MOIR EXCLUSIVE: One Direction's Video, Tom Cruise, Kate Middleton and #BGT

No, I don't suppose Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik smoking a joint is the end of civilisation as we know it. The walls of Jericho will not come tumbling down.
Life will go on for One Direction and their millions and millions of teeny supporters — but it will never be quite the same. In the fevered relationship between band and fan, something fundamental has been broken. Trust.
This week, footage emerged of Louis and Zayn smoking marijuana in a van en route to a concert in Peru. They appeared to be filming each other while indulging in some excruciating rapper talk, boasting about the drugs they were consuming, looking forward to consuming more drugs in the future.
Hemmed inside the van by police outriders, speeding between hotel and concert, the film seemed to sum up the claustrophobia of their existence rather than suggest joyous debauchery. But it still made for grim viewing.
Between them, the two young men dropped an abbreviated version of the N-word; referred to the police as ‘the po-po’; and homophobically referred to some of their own One Direction merchandise as ‘gay’ because they thought it was inferior.
God, it’s almost too embarrassing for words, but who wasn’t embarrassing at the age of 20, even when not breaking the law? And from The Beatles to The Bay City Rollers, has there ever been a teeny-bop band as clean-cut as their wholesome images suggested?
Yet One Direction are in a cynical class of their own. That’s why I feel they simply cannot brush off this incident as an irrelevance, a fuss about nothing, a ‘what’s the big deal’?
Especially as they are a pop group who have keenly cultivated a global fan-base predicated on the — we now understand — falsehood that they are kind, clean-cut, sweet, polite and good-living.

Connection: They are the first boy band to become hugely successful by directly engaging with the Directioners

Even worse, they were the first boy band to become hugely successful by directly engaging with the Directioners (as their most devoted fans call themselves) on social media.
Harry, Niall, Zayn, Liam and Louis tweeted, flirted and made direct appeals to the little girls who worshipped them. Love us, adore us, download our new songs on iTunes, they would beseech.
They fostered the notion that they and the Directioners are all friends together in this big, crazy adventure; that their special fan/band dynamic is one built on mutual love, respect and affection. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. It is a relationship built on cold, hard cash in an aggressive and hugely successful commercial enterprise.
One Direction are the biggest-selling group in the world. And their rise to the top has been cynical and exploitative, even by grasping music industry standards.
So they can’t have it both ways. They cannot shake down millions of little girls, emptying their piggy-banks and pink plastic purses of all their pocket money without feeling even a whisker of responsibility.

Back to work: Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik at Sunderland's Stadium of Light after the video emerged

They cannot encourage the wide-eyed teenies to love and adore them, then snicker and mock the books and products they encourage their fans to buy. They just can’t — but they just did. No wonder parents are annoyed.
All that mums and dads ask of groups such as One Direction is that they repay their faith and financial investment by staying squeaky clean until their 15 minutes of fame are over or their daughters grow up — whichever happens first. What they do after that is entirely their own business.
Yet One Direction have failed to keep their part of the bargain.
Is this the beginning of the end?
In the tuck shop of pop, bands don’t come any more manufactured. They were put together in 2010 by Simon Cowell from a bunch of X Factor rejects, and from then till now the members have done very little to improve their musicianship, to learn a musical instrument or even write a song.
Like so many before them, they take fame for granted, raking in the cash and feeling it will never end.
Some people sneer and say ‘pop star takes drugs’ — what is the big deal? Actually, in this instance, it is a big deal. Surely Louis and Zayn should be more responsible towards their impressionable fan-base.
Charismatic Harry Styles has already distanced himself from their antics, so I suspect a solo career for him cannot be far off and that One Direction will be heading in different directions before long.
‘No more media attention, please,’ said sanctimonious band member Liam Payne this week, as the group launched the first of their stadium shows in Britain.
If they carry on like this, without a word of apology or explanation, then they won’t have to wait too long to be ignored.
Depressing news from a  survey that reveals a lack of knowledge about nature. Some British schoolchildren had no idea where potatoes come from, thought that chocolate bars grew in the ground and had no idea what a spade or a conker was for. Next thing you know, they will believe that hamburgers come from horses. Oh, wait a minute...

 

What did Tom do to deserve this?

In a safari park, an elephant took a photograph of itself after a tourist dropped a camera — the first ever ‘elfie’. 
I was reminded of this when TV presenter Susanna Reid took a selfie of herself and Tom Cruise on the red carpet this week.

Selfie joy: TV presenter Susanna Reid looked over the moon when she snapped herself with Tom Cruise

She seemed as pleased as someone who had just painted a masterpiece and heard it was going to be hung in the Uffizi gallery in Florence. Even dopey elephants with no fingers and thumbs can do it, Susanna! It’s just not that clever.
I believe Tom Cruise should never be forgiven for that Irish accent and thatched hairstyle in the film Far And Away, but what did he do to deserve this?
Susanna was hanging off his  arm like someone who had just escaped from a high-security unit after developing a resistance to Tasers and tranquilisers. Never a good look.
Last week, I wrote how brave it was of golfer Rory McIlroy to call off his engagement to Caroline Wozniacki after having doubts about getting married. Now we hear he broke up with her over the phone. I take it all back! How could he? The brute.

 

I'll fetch my sewing kit, Kate

Following bare-cheeked revelations in a German tabloid, an Australian newspaper has also printed photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge’s bare bottom. Oh, no!
Following the decision of British newspapers to politely pixilate her derriere, the Sydney Daily Telegraph brashly ran the pictures under the headline: ‘My bare lady: Derri-heir to the throne is fair game.’
I don’t know which is worse; all bottom or a pixelated bottom. Either way, it looked like an incredibly guilty bottom. Kate is such a smashing duchess in so many other ways, but she has  got to get these wardrobe malfunctions sorted out.

Battling the wind: I'll happily head over to Kensington Palace with my sewing kit in hand

If needs must, I will head over to Kensington Palace with my sewing kit and stitch the  sixpences into her hems myself.
Of course, it had to happen on a day when she appeared to be wearing no nicks at all — or a thong at the very most (least).
The thing is, who still wears a thong?
My fashion friends tell me that ‘thongs are so Nineties’.
Certainly, thong sales peaked in 2003, but it seems that the Duchess is clinging onto hers —though on this delicate matter, no one is expecting a statement or clarification from Clarence House any time soon.
Poor Kate! It is a blush- making postscript to her  roaringly successful royal tour Down Under.
Will she be comforted by the fact that the member of the public who took the embarrassing snap has promised to donate her photo fees to a local fund to help fight bushfires?
I’m saying nothing.

 

Shirley Valentines all: A still from the 1989 film

Heartbroken Shirley Valentines have set up the website tunisianloverats.com in a bid to name and shame the men who chase after older women on holiday and pretend to fall in love with them — in the hope of getting the right to live in Britain.
It would almost be funny if it were not so sad.
Before women fall for some plausible Adonis, shouldn’t they ask themselves if they are not being hotly pursued by lovely young men at home, why are they suddenly so irresistible abroad?
Yet part of me sympathises.
Single women in their 40s are often very vulnerable, only too ready to listen to the romantic entreaties of young men.
They can be very silly, too. Not to mention sex-mad. Do they really think it is love?
Worst of all, won’t those scoundrels be thrilled to find themselves on such a website?
For them, it is a Love Asbo. Ladies, you have been warned.

 

Exit the dancing gran - and BGT's last hope

Dancing grandmother Paddy Jones and her dance partner Nico (pictured) have had to withdraw from this year’s Britain’s Got Talent series on ITV due to injury.
The 79-year-old has had to hang up her fishnets after doing herself a mischief in rehearsals this week.
This is another blow for BGT, which has lost more than a million viewers in an oddly lacklustre series.

Paddy Jones, 79, has had to hang up her fishnets after doing herself a mischief in rehearsals this week

And I can’t quite join in the chorus of appreciation for classical singer Lucy Kay, who’s triumphed over her past — she was bullied, apparently — to reach the BGT final.
After her winning rendition of Nella Fantasia on Wednesday night, she was asked who wrote the  song, composed by Ennio Morricone.
‘Christ knows!’ she replied.
Simon Cowell thought it was Lloyd Webber and David Walliams hadn’t a clue.
Oh dear. It almost makes me long for popera-lite singer Katherine Jenkins.

Almost.

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Inside scoop on Kim Kardashian's #Kimye wedding

Their wedding was always going to be over the top but if a new report from the New York Post's Page Six is to be believed, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's nuptials descended into farce.

The duo - collectively known as Kimye - tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at the Forti di Belvedere in Florence, Italy last Saturday and in the article, penned by an anonymous wedding insider, it is claimed that the toilets were the most impressive part of the day, encased in a huge gold box.

The report, whose veracity has been questioned by Twitter users who nonetheless rushed to share it, paints Kanye as a groomzilla who was still making changes just one hour before the wedding began, even going so far as to grab a saw to cut the bar in two and later giving himself a 45 minute toast.

Happily ever after: According to the New York Post's Page Six, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's lavish nuptials descended into farce

Michelle Gotthelf, the New York Post's Metropolitan Editor, tweeted the article and wrote, 'Reads like fiction but sadly it's true. Inside #Kimye wedding.'

Page Six reporter Mara Siegler also shared it and wrote: 'Kimye's wedding: Amazing. A "Golden Toilet Tower," Kanye cutting the bar in half and giving himself 45 min toast.'

All true? The NY Post's Michelle Gotthelf tweeted that the article is completely true

While staff from the paper claim the report is real, the publication did originally mark the nupitals with a tongue-in-cheek announcement.

It read: 'Two jackasses got married in Italy Saturday. Sex-tape star Kim Kardashian, 33, wed egotist Kanye West, 36, in a wedding opulent enough for Florence's Medici dynasty and tacky enough for reality TV.

''They were betrothed at Florence's 16th-century Fort di Belvedere castle. Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner walked Kim down the aisle. The republic still stands.'

Just married: Kim and Kanye shared this picture after their wedding and a new report claims to spill the beans on everything that happened including Kanye's groomzilla behaviour

If the hilarious claims are indeed true, they show that the Kimye wedding was even more lavish and OTT than expected.

While the Gold Toilet Tower was the focus of the bash, Kim and Kanye reportedly opted for a unique guest seating arrangements.

Rather than using placecards, the paper reports 'they had a team of Italian stonemasons engrave the name of each guest into the marble of the tabletop in front of the individual place settings'.

30 life-sized nudes were created especially but many were damaged and only six made it to the reception.

Poking fun: The NY Post previously covered Kim and Kanye's wedding with this tongue in cheek article

Annoying: Jaden Smith is reported to have annoyed fellow guests by dressing up as Batman and running around causing chaos

Cape throwing: Vogue Italia's editor in chief, Franca Sozzani is said to have gotten annoyed with Jaden for throwing his cape over her head repeatedly

The New York Post claims Kanye made a number of changes just hours before the wedding including removing 80 lights from the dance floor and stating: ‘I’m in the center of this party.'

And the issues with the lights did not end there with Kim reportedly being furious earlier when a spotlight hit her crotch as she walked into it leading her to unplug all of the lights which left the cocktail area and toilets in darkness.

Instead of the customary one dance for the bride and groom, the NY Post reports they had five
and blind opera singer Andrea Bocelli was reportedly forced to leave after his performance because there was no seat for him.

And while Jaden Smith did indeed wear a white superhero costume, the paper gives an hilarious account of him annoying fellow guests which is so entertaining that one can only hope it is true.

The paper states: 'Will Smith‘s son Jaden wore a white Batman costume and ran around like a chicken with its head cut. Vogue Italia’s editor in chief, Franca Sozzani, was getting irritated because he kept coming up behind her and throwing his cape over her head.'

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Colombia star Radamel Falcao sets sight on Premier league switch amidst interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City

Most of England gathered in prayer to help mend David Beckham’s metatarsal in 2002 - now the whole of Colombia is willing star striker Radamel Falcao to make his own miracle recovery from injury.

Colombia has been waiting for Falcao’s knee to improve since he damaged ligaments playing for Monaco in a French Cup tie in January.

A final decision on whether or not he will go to the World Cup will not be made until Sunday, when the team’s Argentine coach Jose Pekerman finalises his 23-man squad.

Star man: The whole of Colombia are praying Radamel Falcao will recover from injury in time for the World Cup

Setback: England gathered in prayer back in 2002 after David Beckham broke his metatarsal playing for Manchester United against Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League following a tackle from Aldo Duscher

Falcao, who scored nine goals in 13 matches as Colombia finished  second to Argentina in the South American qualifying group, said: ‘The reaction in Colombia to my recuperation really made an impact on me. It has reminded me how important I am for the country. I wouldn’t say it has put more pressure on me. It’s more a case of an extra motivation - wanting to do things not just for me but for all the people who willed me to get fit.

‘The closer the World Cup gets, the more I am thinking I don’t want to be just watching in Brazil. I have worked hard to make sure that is not going to be the case but with an injury it’s not just how hard you work, it’s also how patient and calm you can be.’ 

England fans will continue to watch his recuperation carefully. If Colombia emerge from Group C, which features Greece, Japan and Ivory Coast, they could face Roy Hodgson’s team in the second round.

Comeback trail: Falcao has stepped up his recovery and trained with the Colombia squad on Wednesday

It would be a repeat of the 1998 World Cup group game when Glenn Hoddle’s England brushed aside one of Colombia’s best-ever teams in the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens. 

‘I remember watching the England game with my dad,’ said Falcao. ‘Darren Anderton scored and David Beckham scored with a free-kick and we were going home early again. 

‘We have paid the price in the past for not being as advanced in many areas of the game as other  countries. That has left us poorly prepared for big tournaments but now, with so many Colombian players playing in big clubs all over the world, that has changed. We have improved our mentality.’

Memory: Falcao remembers watching Beckham score against Colombia at World Cup '98 with his Dad

If his knee stays strong, Falcao could benefit from being sidelined for so long. 

‘I don’t come into the tournament with the weight of a long season in my legs so that could be an advantage,’ he said. ‘Providing my knee is fine, the rest of me is well rested and fresh.’ 

Back of the net: Falcao celebrates scoring a penalty against Chile during World Cup qualifying

To get out of the group Colombia may have to get past the Ivory Coast and one of Falcao’s striking references, Didier Drogba. ‘It’s no surprise that he is still there at the top,’ said Falcao. ‘If you are as professional as he has always been and you look after yourself you extend your career at the top.

‘We have a real chance in this group because it’s even.’

Not that Falcao believes Colombia merit their shorter odds than England going into the tournament.

‘You underestimate yourselves,’ he said. ‘I see England as favourites with Germany and Spain in terms of the European contenders and obviously Argentina and Brazil from South America. I would put England ahead of ourselves in terms of favourites. 

‘You have one of the best leagues in the world and it’s extremely competitive, so the players who play in it are elite players. Maybe they would benefit from a little emigration as well, to experience other leagues.’

Falcao shunned the Premier League for a lucrative contract at Monaco last summer, but the 28-year-old says he will end up in England one day.

‘I hope to be playing for many more years in Europe and I want to play in the English league at some time,’ he said. ‘I watch the Premier League and I see how competitive it is and how teams are very direct in terms of looking for the opposition’s goal. The football is very physical; it’s a very interesting league.’

Big-money move: Falcao, who joined Monaco for £51m, says he will end up playing in England one day

Time will tell if it is attractive enough to tempt Falcao; next season he will be playing for Monaco in the Champions League. ‘It is very important to be playing in this competition. I know that people want to see me competing in the Champions League,’ he said. 

He also understands why people questioned his decision last year to move to a club who average crowds of under 15,000. He scored 52 goals in 67 games for Atletico Madrid but justifies the switch to Monaco, saying: ‘Everyone decides what he wants for his own life. Everyone has to do what they think is best for them. When you are a professional sportsman you always want to win regardless.’ 

There must have been some regret at witnessing Atletico enjoy such a superb season.

No regrets: Falcao says he was overjoyed to see former club Atletico Madrid win La Liga and reach the Champions League final this season

‘I’m a little bit surprised at just how well they played and I’m overjoyed at what they have achieved,’ he said. ‘Diego Costa had an incredible season. He was decisive when he needed to be in the league. People say we are similar because we played the same position in the same team but they forget we also played together last season. He can play wide when necessary. He prefers to go out wide to look for space, I prefer to stay central.’ 

Costa looks set to move to Chelsea if Jose Mourinho does not act on his long-standing admiration for Falcao, who believes the magic will remain at Atletico as long as Diego Simeone stays. He was coached first at River Plate and then at Atletico by the manager who Fifa neglected to put in their top 10 coaches last season.

‘I think they forgot him,’ said Falcao. ‘He is one of those coaches who has everything. He knows how to motivate players but it’s a lot more than that. People think it’s all inspiration but there is an awful lot of work done, too. He knows how to analyse the games and he knows where to take advantage of the opposition’s weakness.’

WELCOME BACK, BOYS

It's been a while since we've seen Colombia. Where have they been?
After success in the 1990s with midfielder Carlos Valderrama and his wonderful hair, Colombia have failed to reach the last three World Cups.
They have a colourful past...
Colombia were highly fancied for the 1994 World Cup but finished bottom of their group after
Andres Escobar’s own goal.
On his return to Colombia, Escobar was shot dead.
How did they qualify this time?
Impressively. Colombia had the best defensive record in their group. They thrashed Uruguay 4-0 and got as high as third in the world rankings.

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The Duchess of Cambridge pulls a funny face for a young fan at village fete

She's famous for her elegant dress sense and glossy mane but the Duchess of Cambridge was happy to show off her sillier side today, pulling a funny face for the cameras - much to the delight of one young fan.

After getting a taste of a proper Scotch single malt courtesy of the Famous Grouse Distillery earlier today, the Duke and Duchess arrived in the pretty village of Forteviot in the Scottish Highlands to a rapturous reception from Saltire and Union Jack waving locals.

Whisked off to open the village fete, the royal couple were busy meeting and greeting locals, when the Duchess happened upon a young fan waving an iPad and, laughing, wrinkled her nose for the camera.

Having fun: After her visit to the Famous Grouse Distillery, the Duchess arrived at Fonteviot village fete where she pulled a series of faces to amuse young fans

That's not very regal! After meeting members of the public at Fonteviot village fete, the Duchess pulled a funny face as she posed for one young fan's photograph

Adorable: The Duchess crouches down to chat with a group of slightly overwhelmed schoolgirls as she arrives in Fonteviot in the foothills of the Highlands for the fete

A very British day out: The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Forteviot village fete, walking just ahead of John Dewar, scion of the Dewar whisky dynasty

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Wayne Rooney shared World Cup Spotify playlist on Twitter.Artists include Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Jake Bugg, Bruno Mars, Stereophonics, Sam Smith, The Lumineers, Bill Withers and James Blunt

Wayne Rooney is planning to hit the high notes at the World Cup this summer and the England striker has already prepared his playlist for Brazil.

The 28-year-old's soundtracks for South America include 'Money On My Mind' by Sam Smith, 'Goodbye My Lover' by James Blunt and a selection of other mainstream tunes.

Rooney posted his Spotify playlist to his fans on Twitter, alongside the message: 'this is my world cup album 2014 hope everyone enjoys it. Bit of a mixed bag'.

Wide-ranging musical tastes: Wayne Rooney has revealed a love of Beyonce, Ed Sheeran and Bill Withers

Hotting up: Rooney and the rest of the England squad trained in plenty of layers to replicate the heat in Brazil

Sing when you're winning: Rooney shared his World Cup Spotify playlist on Twitter

Beats: Rooney's soundtrack for Brazil includes Stereophonics, Beyonce and Bruno Mars

The United star missed the end of the season with a groin problem and took fitness and conditioning experts with him on holiday at the end of the campaign, determined to stay in shape after disappointments at his two previous World Cup tournaments.

In 2006, he recovered from a broken metatarsal but lacked sharpness and erupted with a red card during England's quarter-final defeat against Portugal.

Four years ago he was also suffering niggling problems and fitness issues which limited his work in training.

Hodgson will hope this time it is different for Rooney and is sure to be encouraged by the evidence since his squad assembled last week.

Drunk in Love: England striker Rooney enjoys the songs of American songstress Beyonce Knowles

Old and new: Rooney's wide-ranging musical taste includes Bill Withers (left) and Ed Sheeran

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