Louis Tomlinson and Sam Thompson finally meet as they smile at awkward meeting

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Singer Louis Tomlinson and Sam Thompson finally met face to face for the first time at Soccer Aid training today. Both lads are playing for the same England team for Unicef - the charity for which Sam recently completed a gruelling 260-mile marathon over five days.
Normally, charity football matches aren't awkward affairs, but thanks to One Direction singer currently dating Sam's ex, things could a little tense on the pitch this weekend.
Despite former Made In Chelsea star Sam insisting there's 'no hard feelings', the meeting is likely to be a bit awkward, given that he and Love Island and Strictly Come Dancing star Zara McDermott, 28, announced their split in January after being together for over five years.
Zara has since swiftly moved on with singer Louis, 33, and the loved-up pair have been practically inseparable since their relationship came into the public eye in March.
As Sam turned up for the training, he put on a brave face for the cameras, while a beaming Louis was spotted arriving with a black sports bag. Zara McDermott showed her support for her new beau Louis the night before by whipping up a 'creamy salmon pasta for dinner', with the singer's guitar noticeably in the background of the photo she shared.
One Direction fans were taken aback seeing Zara cozy up with Louis for the first time earlier this year, leading Sam to quip about the pair shortly after their connection hit the headlines. Reflecting on possible reasons for swift romantic transitions, he remarked: "I suppose a lot of people look for validation in other people right? And they look for the next person instantly because it's like 'I need to find someone else to fill that hole and I need to find that excitement.'".
But Sam seemed a little more level-headed during a podcast chat with buddy Pete Wicks. Sam revealed an interview question that drew attention to their looming interaction. He recounted: "At the end of the interview, he goes, 'Look mate, I've got to ask the question that everyone wants to know. This is sort of the big question really, the elephant in the room, What's it going to be like with you and Louis? Obviously he's doing Soccer Aid too.'".
Sam recounted the tense moment with a laugh: "Mate, you should have seen the room, everybody, it was silent then everyone goes 'Woah, Woah Woah, end the call! End the call!' and I have just gone 'No, no guys, I've got this, I've got this.' I held my hands up to say just relax."
He expressed his genuine intentions, saying, "I think I did alright and I meant everything I said as well, that it's not about me or Louis or who anyone is dating, it's f**king Unicef and charity and everyone is going to be there for the exact same reason. And if he has anything about him which I've heard he does, he's going to sit there and say the exact same thing."
In an interview with The Mirror in May, Sam shared his anticipation of meeting Louis: "I've never met Louis, but the moment I see him, I'll be like, 'mate, how amazing is this what we're doing, and hopefully we can make as much money as possible.
"And I imagine – from what I hear is a really lovely bloke – I imagine the reply will be exactly the same." Having raised over £1.5 million for Unicef through his athletic endeavours, Sam told us, "I am totally broken - but so happy. The fact this challenge has grabbed everyone's attention is just so incredible and I have just been blown away!".