The United States and Mexico clash on Saturday in a winner-takes-all shoot-out for a place at the 2017 Confederations Cup with US coach Jurgen Klinsmann facing arguably the biggest test of his four-year reign.
A sell-out crowd of more than 92,000 is expected to cram into the vast expanse of the Pasadena Rose Bowl for the latest instalment of the fierce rivalry between the North American heavyweights.
A play-off to determine the Concacaf region’s representative at the Confederations Cup in Russia in two year’s time was ordered after the United States won the 2013 Gold Cup and Mexico lifted the 2015 edition.
The United States’ failure to win this year’s Gold Cup on home soil, where they were stunned by Jamaica in the semi-finals, and a 4-1 friendly thrashing by Brazil last month, left Klinsmann’s critics sharpening their knives.
Former captain Landon Donovan, who has had an uneasy relationship with Klinsmann, told ESPN this week the German legend should be fired in the event of an American defeat to Mexico on Saturday.
“We had a very poor summer with bad results in the Gold Cup,” said Donovan, who was famously omitted by Klinsmann from the US squad for last year’s World Cup.
“The last game against Brazil was probably the worst game I’ve seen them play under Jurgen ... Anywhere else in the world, if this coach had those results, and they lose this game against Mexico, they’d be fired.”
Donovan’s comments echoed widespread calls for Klinsmann’s position to be reviewed after the Gold Cup failure in June.
Yet many however believe his job is unlikely to be at risk, even if the nightmare scenario of a Mexico victory unfolds on Saturday.
The former Germany striker has a contract until 2018 and so far US Soccer Federation chief Sunil Gulati has made it plain he sees Klinsmann as a long-term appointment.
“We don’t make judgements based on one game,” Gulati said in July after the Gold Cup exit. Klinsmann meanwhile has shown no sign of being rattled, bullishly declaring in a recent interview that he fully expects an American victory.
“I’m very confident about it,” Klinsmann told ESPN. “With all the respect to the Mexican team – there’s no doubt that they have a lot of quality – I’m confident that if our group sticks together and works with a tremendous amount of energy and chemistry, we’re going to beat them.”
For Klinsmann’s players, Saturday represents an opportunity to avenge their shattering 2011 defeat to Mexico at the same venue in the final of the Gold Cup, when they squandered a 2-0 lead before crashing 4-2.
US skipper Michael Bradley, a veteran of that defeat, admitted the loss still weighed heavily on the players who experienced it.
“Any time you lose a final, you don’t forget that quickly,” Bradley told ussoccer.com.
“And when you have to watch your big rival lift a trophy, that stays with you.”
Bradley meanwhile urged his team to savour the prospect of another titanic battle with Mexico in what is expected to be a highly charged atmosphere.
“Games against Mexico don’t come around every day,” Bradley said.
“Games against Mexico that have so much on the line don’t either ... the atmosphere is going to be amazing.”
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Emirates exiles
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
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- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
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SPECS
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Match info
Liverpool 4
Salah (19'), Mane (45 2', 53'), Sturridge (87')
West Ham United 0
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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
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.
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Bharatanatyam
A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
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The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
