TEHRAN // Iran's hopes of reaching the 2010 World Cup might seem a bit slim at the moment, but coach Afshin Ghotbi is confident Team Melli will complete their journey to South Africa even if they must go through the play-offs. Iran occupy fourth position in Group B with seven points. South Korea lead the table and are already assured of one of the two automatic qualifying spots from the group.
In their last game, Ghotbi's side were held to a goalless draw in Pyongyang by North Korea on Saturday. The result means they must beat the UAE tonight and then conquer South Korea in Seoul a week later to secure at least third place in the group for a spot in the play-offs. North Korea (11 points) and Saudi Arabia (10 points) are in a better position, but Ghotbi is confident his side can upstage the other two.
"The result against North Korea has not decreased our hopes of qualifying one bit; it has only changed our route to qualification," said Ghotbi. "We would have been happy with three points in Pyongyang, but I still think getting one point has taken us one step closer to qualification. I believe that a lot of things can happen in this five-team group because the point differences are small and, apart from the UAE, anyone can qualify. I hope in the next eight days, we will record a memorable fate in our quest to qualify for the World Cup."
Asia have four automatic qualifying berths and three of them have already been decided. Japan and Australia have booked their tickets from Group A, while South Korea have confirmed their seventh consecutive World Cup appearance. The third-placed teams from the two Asian groups will play each other for the right to take on Oceania winners New Zealand for a place in South Africa. arizvi@thenational.ae
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
The biog
Name: Greg Heinricks
From: Alberta, western Canada
Record fish: 56kg sailfish
Member of: International Game Fish Association
Company: Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog
Hobby: "It is not really a hobby but I am very curious person. I love reading and spend hours on research."
Favourite author: Malcom Gladwell
Favourite travel destination: "Antigua in the Caribbean because I have emotional attachment to it. It is where I got married."
Race card
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)
On sale: Now
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
Blonde
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5