In a shocking revelation that might shake the very foundations of all you know about New Zealand: rugby is not the only sport we play.
In fact, one might even say we were the best-performing country in the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa - being the only undefeated team in the tournament. Sure, we didn't actually win a game either - but we've so far succeeded in conveniently burying that line in the eight years since our most golden footballing run in recent memory.
2010 was a great year for little old New Zealand. It was the year Taika Waititi's homegrown smash-hit Boy was released; the Richie McCaw-led All Blacks spent June running riot over Ireland, Wales and Wales again, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy had just been released in box set form. But all this paled in comparison to what was about to take place, for this was the month the All Whites (yes, football's monochromatic answer to the All Blacks) finally earned their place at only the second World Cup they had qualified for since 1970.
It was just over a year after we'd taken on the fifth placed team from the Asian qualifiers, Bahrain, to earn our fairytale spot in the tournament. Interestingly, it just so happens that Oceania is the only confederation that does not have an automatic place in the finals. Fifa only came to its senses and rectified that last year. But, I digress.
New Zealand arrived on South African soil with the weight of a nation on its shoulders - for we're obviously no stranger to completely over-amplifying any event on the world stage we're invited to take part in. Most of us didn't actually think we'd advance beyond the pool stage - we're just great at bandwagon jumping when we perform marginally well in something other than rugby.
Our first match, against Slovakia, left us with a convincing 1-1 draw - during which, 21-year-old debutante Winston Reid sent the entire country into raptures when he punted a header into the net in the dying seconds. It was about that moment that Kiwis everywhere rubbed their bleary eyes and a new thought dawned on them: could we actually advance?! Things reached fever pitch when we walked away from our next game against 2006 champions Italy with another 1-1 draw. New Zealand were pariahs no more. It was about that stage that we decided we were definitely going to win the whole thing.
Our final match was against Paraguay, and though we remained goalless, so did our opponents. Shellshocked, the country took stock of what had just occurred: we'd come away from the group stage completely unbeaten (and yet, cough, also without winning a game). It didn't matter that we didn't advance from the group stage. We went down in history as the only unbeaten team - a point we haven't let the footballing world forget since.
Besides, we consoled ourselves with the fact that the first round also took out the 2006 champions (Italy), the 2006 runners-up (France), and the hosts (South Africa) - the latter the first time to happen in the event's history. I should probably also mention we were the only undefeated team in the tournament.
Could this be our next rugby, the nation collectively wondered?
_____________
Read more:
World Cup 2018: Guides, predictions, podcasts, galleries and where to watch in UAE
In pictures: The World Cup 2018 stadiums in Russia as seen from space
My favourite World Cup moment: Owen Hargreaves' lung-busting show in 2006
My favourite World Cup moment: Michael Laudrup and the Danish Dynamite at Mexico 86
_____________
Well, no, as it turns out. In the 2014 inter-confederation play-off, we lost to Mexico, who despite their poor form, toppled us quite convincingly. And in 2017, our next shot at qualifying ended in heartbreak again when Peru ended a 36-year World Cup appearance drought by beating us 2-0.
And yet, in the years since our 2010 dream run, New Zealand football has reached new heights. Ryan Nelsen went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur. Chris Wood went to Burnley, and Winston Reid - he of the match-saving header against Slovakia - might be our most famous export of all, having gone on to see his name in lights at West Ham United, and to captain the All Whites. Even the unthinkable happened. The All Whites trounced all over the All Blacks at New Zealand's national sporting awards, the Halberg awards, including taking out team of the year.
Sure, a few months later the Tri Nations arrived and New Zealand momentarily forgot we'd ever had a football team - but the point will forever stand.
Did I mention the time we were the only undefeated team at a World Cup?
Ashleigh Stewart is a Home Page Editor at The National
CRICKET%20WORLD%20CUP%20LEAGUE%202
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Company%20Profile
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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EA%20Sports%20FC%2024
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars
SUE%20GRAY'S%20FINDINGS
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The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Price, base: Dh1.2 million
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.3L / 100km (estimate)
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Napoleon
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Ridley%20Scott%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Joaquin%20Phoenix%2C%20Vanessa%20Kirby%2C%20Tahar%20Rahim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
