The draw for the 2014 World Cup proved uncomfortable viewing for some of the most prestigious coaches in world football, and not simply because of the botched minute’s silence, the controversially light-skinned presenters or a dancing armadillo.
The stage was set before the stage was set.
In an isolated resort in the northeast of Brazil, at an expense in excess of $11 million (Dh40.4m), a lavish ceremony mixed arts and culture with the country’s famous footballing past.
Then, courtesy of eight prominent former players, the balls were drawn and brackets were set.
Few will feel more hard done by than the United States, who were selected to play Germany, Portugal and Ghana next June.
Spain and the Netherlands, finalists in 2010, were grouped together, while England and Italy will face off in the humid Amazonian city of Manaus, 4,000km from Sao Paulo, the host site for England’s second match, against Uruguay.
Algeria, the only Arab representative at the showpiece, will meet Belgium, Russia and South Korea, while Iran drew Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nigeria.
Yet before any of that had been decided, Sepp Blatter, who when it suits him often speaks of how football and politics should not mix, approached the stage alongside Dilma Rousseff, the Brazilian president.
A small protest by a hotel workers’ union had taken place earlier in the day at the entrance to this grandiose resort, and the Fifa president, presented by Fernanda Lima and husband Rodrigo Hilbert, appealed to Brazil’s population to “come together”.
Blatter is a renowned palm-presser, arguably more content amid kings and sheikhs than he is coaches and strikers, and he immediately called a minute’s silence in tribute to the late Nelson Mandela, the former South African leader who grew to symbolise the 2010 World Cup. Silence, however, does not make for good television and so after only a few seconds, Blatter suggested a moment’s applause instead.
Rousseff expressed her confidence that Brazil would host “a cup that nobody will ever forget” and “the cup of all cups”.
Blatter had only the previous day revealed Sao Paulo’s World Cup stadium is not expected to be finished until eight weeks before hosting the tournament’s opening match, yet he confidently declared the six-week jamboree will be “the greatest of all time”.
Much of that will be determined by what happens on the pitch.
And much of that, say the coaches, could be determined by where the pitch is, given Brazil’s size and differing climates. Blatter has said that “for the time being” Sao Paulo will continue to be scheduled to host the opening game, despite progress being delayed following a crane accident last week that resulted in the death of two stadium workers. Following the draw, we now know Brazil’s opposition on June 12 will be Croatia.
Pele suggested his country will reach the final and a favourable draw for the hosts sees them also face Mexico and Cameroon. Luis Felipe Scolari, the Brazilian coach, will expect his Confederations Cup winners to overcome all three. The same cannot be said of other countries with elevated expectations, including the world champions.
The last match Spain played at a World Cup saw them defeat Holland to lift the trophy for the first time. Vicente del Bosque, the Spanish coach, carefully placed the golden trophy atop a plinth and spoke of the difficulty of defending his country’s crown, adding his opposite teams were “excellent”. And that was before the draw.
Next year, the champions will open their campaign against Holland in Salvador before making the trip south to Rio, where they will play Chile. They finish their group stage against Australia in Curitiba, south of Sao Paulo.
If that sounds like extensive travel, spare a thought for Roy Hodgson, the England coach who earlier this week spoke of his fear of being forced to play out a group stage match in Manaus.
The capital of Amazonia is the northernmost and most remote host city in Brazil, while also offering a tropical climate that, even before factoring in stifling humidity, can see temperatures reach in excess of 30 degrees in June. It is such conditions that will greet England and the 2006 champions, Italy.
Algeria were handed the most favourable draw geographically and will play all three of their group games relatively close together. The Desert Foxes will meet Belgium in Belo Horizonte, Russia in Sao Paulo and South Korea in Rio de Janeiro.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
Results
57kg quarter-finals
Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.
60kg quarter-finals
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.
63.5kg quarter-finals
Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.
67kg quarter-finals
Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.
71kg quarter-finals
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.
Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.
81kg quarter-finals
Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
China and the UAE agree comprehensive strategic partnership
China and the UAE forged even closer links between the two countries during the landmark state visit after finalising a ten-point agreement on a range of issues, from international affairs to the economy and trade and renewable energy.
1. Politics: The two countries agreed to support each other on issues of security and to work together on regional and international challenges. The nations also confirmed that the number of high-level state visits between China and the UAE will increase.
2. Economy: The UAE offers its full support to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which will combine a land 'economic belt" and a "maritime silk road" that will link China with the Arabian Gulf as well as Southeast, South and Central China, North Africa and, eventually, Europe.
3. Business and innovation: The two nations are committed to exploring new partnerships in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, energy, the aviation and transport industries and have vowed to build economic co-operation through the UAE-China Business Committee.
4. Education, science and technology: The Partnership Programme between Arab countries in Science and Technology will encourage young Emirati scientists to conduct research in China, while the nations will work together on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, renewable energy and space projects.
5. Renewable energy and water: The two countries will partner to develop renewable energy schemes and work to reduce climate change. The nations have also reiterated their support for the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency.
6. Oil and gas: The UAE and China will work in partnership in the crude oil trade and the exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources.
7. Military and law enforcement and security fields: Joint training will take place between the Chinese and UAE armed forces, while the two nations will step up efforts to combat terrorism and organised crime.
8. Culture and humanitarian issues: Joint cultural projects will be developed and partnerships will be cultivated on the preservation of heritage, contemporary art and tourism.
9. Movement between countries: China and the UAE made clear their intent to encourage travel between the countries through a wide-ranging visa waiver agreement.
10. Implementing the strategic partnership: The Intergovernmental Co-operation Committee, established last year, will be used to ensure the objectives of the partnership are implemented.
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
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
THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
Her most famous song
Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?
Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.
Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab
