Jamie Vardy ties the knot with Euro 2016 selection assured

GIVEN Jamie Vardy's epic season, he would be forgiven for letting his hair down a little at his wedding tomorrow.
honeymoon period: Jamie Vardy gets married tomorrow after forming an effective partnership with Harry Kane, celebrating his goal against Turkey with John Stones, below. Pictures: PAhoneymoon period: Jamie Vardy gets married tomorrow after forming an effective partnership with Harry Kane, celebrating his goal against Turkey with John Stones, below. Pictures: PA
honeymoon period: Jamie Vardy gets married tomorrow after forming an effective partnership with Harry Kane, celebrating his goal against Turkey with John Stones, below. Pictures: PA

Not a bit of it, with a quiet occasion in store for the Yorkshireman when he ties the knot with fiancée Becky, having been granted dispensation by England after cancelling his wedding last June following his call-up for the European Championship qualifiers.

Champagne and canapés will be off the menu for the Leicester City striker. He will not be involved in Friday’s friendly with Australia at the Stadium of Light, but even the honeymoon is on hold until next year.

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After spending a brief amount of time with his new bride, the 29-year-old will link up again with England ahead of their Euro 2016 campaign in France and while it promises to be a hectic summer with little respite after a momentous 2015-16 season, he is not complaining.

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Vardy, whose amazing rise to prominence will be featured in a film, said: “It has been a manic season, but I am happy for it to carry on that way – and I will try and keep my (wedding) speech short and sweet.

“I got the wedding changed last year and then at the start of this again and then again – three times. It was just to be on the safe side, so it is a good job I moved it.”

He continued: “There is no honeymoon. I will have to take that next year some time.

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“It will be a very quiet night on Wednesday. Obviously I hope all the guests have a good time, but I will have a quiet one.

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“At the end of the day, I am a professional and understand what has to be done, so I will be making sure I get plenty of sleep ready to come back in.”

On his remarkable season, the Sheffielder said: “I think I have just stayed on a high, to be fair.

“I am still raring to go and with the boys we have, we know if we are 100 per cent on our day we can go far.”

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Maintaining the wedding theme, many would venture that Vardy’s stunning season has been one long honeymoon, with highs following with the regularity of London buses.

Another arrived on Sunday when he netted the late winner for England in their 2-1 win over Turkey at the Etihad Stadium, the former FC Halifax Town and Stocksbridge Park Steels striker’s third successive goal in three appearances for his country.

Vardy, moved inside in the second half after playing in a left-sided role before the break, said: “I was delighted to get a goal, but the more important thing was that the team got the win.

“We knew it would be hard, but that is we wanted in preparation for the Euros – a nice strong test, which we have come through as a team.

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“I was told to make the normal runs I would if I was down the middle, to create space for Danny (Rose) in the first half. Overall, it was a good performance.

“I am not fussed where I play – wherever that is, I will give 110 per cent.”

Against Turkey at the Etihad Stadium, Harry Kane had his early opener quickly cancelled out by Hakan Calhanoglu, and Fatih Terim’s men threatened to secure a first win against England.

However, a second-half change in system saw Vardy form a two-pronged strike force with Kane – a move that quickly paid dividends as his pace and directness earned a penalty.

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Tottenham striker Kane missed the spot-kick, but his Leicester counterpart saved his blushes by firing home from close range, wrapping up a 2-1 win that Hodgson confirmed would be Vardy’s last England display before the 23-man squad for the European Championship is named.

The England manager also highlighted the fact that the 29-year-old is not desperately needed for the Australia match, considering his recent displays and the fact his squad is boosted by a clutch of players.

“I don’t think his place in the team or the squad at the moment is under enormous threat and we do have other players that we need to look at,” explained Hodgson. “In some ways, as a second preparation game, it hasn’t caused any particular problems.”

Manchester United and Liverpool’s players joined up with England yesterday, with teenager Marcus Rashford getting his first taste with the senior squad just three months after making his Old Trafford club debut. The 18-year-old impressed in United’s FA Cup final win against Crystal Palace on Saturday, but picked up a knee injury that forced him off and needs assessing by the Three Lions’ medical staff.

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“You might want to ask me about Rashford’s fitness and I’ll have to answer that I don’t know,” said Hodgson.

“We believe it is not a serious injury, but he obviously took a nasty knock and we’ll have to wait and see how he turns up.”