Belgium's players have been motivated by the desire to deliver captain and talisman Vincent Kompany onto the World Cup stage they believe he deserves to grace.
It has taken a decade but finally the 28-year-old Kompany, one of Belgium's greatest ever defenders, is going to get his chance to strut his stuff at a major international tournament.
"I could not imagine that a player of Vincent's calibre would not experience a World Cup at least one time in his career," said Belgium coach Marc Wilmots.
"I told the players at the beginning of the qualification phase: we had to qualify, at least for Vincent."
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Manchester City centre-back Kompany, who captains his club as well as his country, has been an international for a decade but Belgium's major tournament hiatus has lasted since qualifying for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
That in itself is a difficult statistic to comprehend given the way they breezed through their qualification group, remaining unbeaten and finishing nine points clear of second-placed Croatia.
But led by the 1.91-metre tall, 85kg Kompany, Belgium have not only turned 12 years of disappointment on its head, they've also established themselves as one of the outsiders for overall victory in Brazil.
And at the forefront of their hopes stands a leader of men.
"When Vincent speaks, we keep quiet and listen," said talented playmaker Eden Hazard recently.
That the focus of Belgium's attacking brilliance should so willingly admit to taking a back-seat when around Kompany demonstrates exactly in how high a regard he is held.
Perhaps one reason for that is Kompany's sense of the collective and his willingness to stand up for one and all among his team-mates.
"He's difficult to negotiate with but what struck me the most is his sense of the team ethic," said Philippe Collin, president of the Belgian Federation's technical commission.
"When he negotiated the (playing) bonuses, he insisted that they be the same for the starters and the substitutes, but also for those sitting in the stands.
"He had nothing to gain from that given he's normally always on the pitch but that was his way of soldering the group together."
It is that sort of leadership for all that has ensured that Kompany is so well respected by his team-mates.
It is no surprise either that Kompany forms part of the Belgian players' committee alongside other established squad members Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Daniel Van Buyten and Axel Witsel.
But to reduce Kompany's contribution merely to his impact on team spirit is to ignore the great qualities he exudes as a player.
An elegant, intelligent ball-playing centre-half, Kompany is also a great organiser.
Added to that he is humble and pragmatic, insisting that those getting excited about Belgium's new breed of young stars such as Adnan Januzaj, Romelu Lukaku and Hazard don't start getting carried away by their own press.
"We have a young squad, it's their first major tournament. I think it's a still a bit too early to dream of the summit," said Kompany. "For overall victory it's better waiting until 2016 and the Euros in France."
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Match info:
Burnley 0
Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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