Peter Crouch sums up Spurs' dichotomy this season

Tottenham Hotspur's inaugural season in the Champions League is doubling up as a deluxe tour of Europe's grandest clubs.

After the Milanese masters, AC and Inter, come the most illustrious of all, Real Madrid. Overcome them and the garlanded greats of Barcelona probably await.

The fixture list still seems surreal. These are days to be savoured, partly because of their long wait and partly because a second excursion around the continent's highest-class clubs grows more unlikely.

With every Premier League point dropped, the probability increases that Spurs will be plying their trade in the Europa League next season.

There is a temptation to brand as schizophrenic a side that can scare the continent's best and struggle against the division's worst.

It could be argued, however, that this merely means Harry Redknapp's current collective are the rightful successors to plenty of their predecessors at White Hart Lane.

Glory, glory Tottenham Hotspur has a more glamorous ring than consistent, consistent Tottenham Hotspur.

If one player epitomises the dichotomy, it is Peter Crouch. The man whose goal eliminated AC Milan has struck seven times in eight starts against European opposition.

Against the English, however, he has mustered a mere two goals in 27 games. He has become that rarity, a target man to take on the status of an enigma.

Or, perhaps, he has been found out. Crouch's unique physique is no longer a surprise to those who face him regularly. For the unfamiliar, however, he poses a novel problem.

It explains why his goalscoring record in the Champions League and international football is vastly superior to his return in the Premier League and why, although Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko started Saturday's stalemate at Wigan Athletic, Crouch is likely to be the lone front-runner in the Bernabeu tonight.

Yet there are few strangers in the higher echelons of the world game. Last week, his former Liverpool teammate, and current Real full-back, Alvaro Arbeloa, outlined a game plan against Crouch: defend high and keep him out of the penalty area.

Ricardo Carvalho, an old adversary, has reasons to be confident: he has faced the Englishman 12 times, without Crouch scoring in his 726 minutes on the field. Jose Mourinho is accustomed to planning to halt him.

There is a sense, too, that a man Redknapp has spent much of his career signing and selling (for Southampton, Portsmouth and Spurs) is at a defining point in his Tottenham career.

Should they fail to finish in the top four, the strikers could bear the brunt of the responsibility.

Between them, Crouch, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko and the departed Robbie Keane have contributed a mere 11 league goals (in comparison, Wolverhampton Wanderers' specialist forwards have struck 17 times and West Ham United's 19, and both teams are in the bottom three).

Redknapp's fondness for a transfer is legendary and a striker appears a priority. Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan and Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi have attracted his attention, as did Luis Fabiano, now back in Brazil and Andy Carroll, who moved to Liverpool.

The demands have changed. Rafael van der Vaart's presence in the hole necessitates a multidimensional player if he is to be alone in attack; but, as Real have noted, pace is not Crouch's forte.

Increasingly, goalscoring is not either, although his alliance of opposites with the Dutchman proved prolific in the autumn.

It is Crouch's misfortune that he has been misunderstood for much of his career. His gangling 6ft 7ins (2.01m) frame can blind onlookers to the reality he often volleys the ball better than he heads it, for instance.

However, Redknapp knows him better than most, and he appears to have come to the conclusion that the professional predators are the likelier league scorers.

The precedent is worrying, too: Crouch became surplus to requirements at Liverpool when a truly world-class forward, Fernando Torres, was bought.

It was Crouch's goal against Manchester City that earned Tottenham their chance in the Champions League and his finish in the San Siro that clinched a place in the last eight.

Yet as Spurs arrive at the Bernabeu for what could prove a one-off, their European talisman could be forgiven for wondering if it is the beginning of the end for him.

>>>

While injuries are a regular complaint of many a manager, few have as much right to grumble as David Moyes. Everton kicked off against Aston Villa on Saturday with a bench that could not boast a single minute's experience in the Premier League. Factor in the goal that wasn't - Jermaine Beckford's shot which crossed the line - and none can argue they were unluckier.

>>>

Fulham's 3-0 win over Blackpool may become known for the unveiling of the ludicrous statue of Michael Jackson and may have greater implications for the visitors, now in their lowest position of the season. Nevertheless, it also took Mark Hughes's team into the top half of the table. Had Bobby Zamora stayed fit all season, they may have been stationed there for much of the campaign.

>>>

With only eight points separating ninth place from 20th, Newcastle United may not be safe yet. But a 4-1 win over Wolves was an emphatic response to a 4-0 thrashing at Stoke and that was achieved without arguably their two best players, the injured Jose Enrique and the banned Cheik Tiote, was proof of Alan Pardew's ability to conjure results from a depleted group.

sports@thenational.ae

Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville

Rating: 4/5

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.

How to wear a kandura

Dos

Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts

Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying

On Women's Day

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

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The Bio

Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”

Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”

Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”

Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”

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: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
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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.

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Scorecard:

England 458 & 119/1 (51.0 ov)

South Africa 361

England lead by 216 runs with 9 wickets remaining

COMPANY%20PROFILE

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Kanguva

Director: Siva

Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley

Rating: 2/5

Q&A with Dash Berlin

Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.

You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.

You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.

Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.

While you're here

Hend Al Otaiba: A year ago, Covid-19 forced us apart – now, vaccines can bring us back together

National Editorial: Iata travel pass – 'digital passports' will get the world moving again

Lucy Sherriff: Covid vaccine passports: safeguard or ethical nightmare?

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine

Power: 420kW

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Transmission: 8-speed automatic

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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

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

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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

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.

The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.

Company%20Profile

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Smartphone project shines a light on lives changed forever by war

Yemen: Doctors Without Borders set up emergency hospital in Mocha

Humanitarian chief pleads for peace amid regional tensions

Iraq's displaced have been forgotten, says top UNHCR official

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice