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'In Mother Russia only Putin gets an umbrella' - Viewers bemused by President's World Cup 'power move'

Putin was shielded from the rain – but Macron and the Croatian leader got drenched.

RUSSIA HAS BEEN praised in recent weeks for a well-organised, smoothly-run World Cup.

So it came as something of a surprise this evening that officials had seemingly neglected to bring along a few extra umbrellas for the presentation ceremony, as France claimed its first victory in the tournament in 20 years.

At first, it appeared President Vladimir Putin would be the only leader on the podium provided with an umbrella amid a post-match downpour in Moscow.

Alongside him, Emmanuel Macron’s suit darkened along a scale from damp to drenched as he shook hands and greeted players from his victorious French team and the runners up from Croatia.

Croatian leader Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Fifa boss Gianni Infantino also continued with the formalities – apparently unperturbed by the lack of any particular effort to shield them from the rain.

The ceremony continued as you might expect. None of the three other leaders appeared to offer much by way of complaint, and, eventually, someone managed to rustle up a few umbrellas (smaller ones) for the visiting guests.

Given his reputation for strongarm tactics and diplomatic mindgames, many Twitter users reckoned the lack of protection for anyone else but Putin fit in pretty well with his political persona.

France v Croatia - FIFA World Cup 2018 - Final - Luzhniki Stadium EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Macron and Putin had a meeting ahead of the final, but a spokesperson for the French leader said yesterday that the situation in Ukraine had not evolved enough for Macron to invite Putin to the next G7 meeting taking place in Biarritz next summer.

Congrats

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has tweeted his congratulations to France in the wake of the country’s World Cup victory.

Trump also congratulated Putin for what he described as “a truly great World Cup Tournament — one of the best ever!”.

Trump is on his way to a summit meeting with Putin in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. He departed Scotland this afternoon after spending two nights at his Turnberry golf resort, and is due to meet with Putin tomorrow.

wc3

Tomorrow’s summit will offer the two leaders the chance to get the measure of each other on an array of fronts including Syria, Ukraine and nuclear disarmament.

- Includes reporting from AFP 

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    Mute David Van-Standen
    Favourite David Van-Standen
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    May 28th 2022, 8:35 AM

    Give it another six months and if the price of everything keeps increasing as it has in the last six months, people might be living on spuds!

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    Mute James Fox
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    May 28th 2022, 11:31 AM

    @David Van-Standen: spuds ain’t cheap to buy either

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    Mute Aurelio Na Fodhla
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    May 28th 2022, 11:56 AM

    @James Fox: cheap to grow. I’ve about 80 plants growing

    29
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    Mute
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    May 28th 2022, 10:20 AM

    How come chippies are complaining about the price of potatoes and their suppliers are blaming it on the war saying a lot of potatoes they use are imported. Example My local chippie has t2 stores he gets a HGV load of potatoes once/twice a week he’s getting them potatoes in from UK and parts of Eastern Europe inc Ukraine pre war. This country should be self sufficient in veg.

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    Mute Paul Guckian
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    May 28th 2022, 10:04 AM

    How come we cannot buy any frozen chips that are made in Ireland? Not only should be able to, it should be a major export commodity as well.

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    Mute Finola Thorn
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    May 28th 2022, 11:22 AM

    Bring back (in supermarkets) the option to pick your own spuds. I personally never get through even a small bag before they go off. Being able to pick the amount you need for one meal would be helpful and I’m sure more people like me, would be more inclined to buy.

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    Mute OConnelj
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    May 28th 2022, 11:37 AM

    @Finola Thorn: I bought 2 potatoes yesterday!

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    Mute OConnelj
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    May 28th 2022, 11:38 AM

    @OConnelj: in a supermarket.

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    Mute Jason Walsh
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    May 28th 2022, 12:02 PM

    @OConnelj: wrapped in plastic no doubt

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    Mute Eddie O'Neill
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    May 28th 2022, 1:26 PM

    @Finola Thorn: I would completely agree on that, same for other fruit and vegetables. They don’t care if you have to throw out produce gone bad, they sell you a bigger bag than you need because they can charge you more for it. That’s all they are interested in, your money and getting it from your pocket into their till. The days of Superquinn are long gone now.

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    Mute OConnelj
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    May 28th 2022, 5:12 PM

    @Jason Walsh: nope loose.

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    Mute Kate Peters
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    May 28th 2022, 5:47 PM

    @Finola Thorn: I live on my own,and I go to the veg man,he has a stall,and has every kind of fruit veg and potatoes,I’d say can I get 4 r 6 potatoes,it’s no problem,he has veg u get in the supermarket,and he has the carrots,onions with the stalks still on them,they have only been picked,or often in Butchers they would have a paper bag of potatoes,and u can fill your own,I hope u find someplace near u

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    Mute Vonvonic
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    May 28th 2022, 8:44 AM

    A Polish friend of mine was asking me wan time which were better, Polish Potatoes or Irish Potatoes? I said to him: That dipinds on whether you are ating dem yurselves, or fading dem to de cattle.

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    Mute Lien Lynch
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    May 28th 2022, 8:36 AM

    Sounds like he has a bit of a chip about it

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    Mute Niall O'Reilly
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    May 28th 2022, 3:09 PM

    Potatoes are so flexible. I love them as boxty. New potatoes are delicious just add butter and a pinch of salt. Roasted or boiled in their jackets or mashed with milk, scallions, butter and chives. Or served baked in cream. Or as pommes Anna. Or pommes dauphinois! Or Créme fraiche potatoes. The list is endless!! Gan féasta gan prátaí!

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