The way to define a country’s “golden generation” if you are a coach of a national team is to do it warily.
Most golden generations never become champions and too much gilding of their reputations can become a distraction.
But the phrase is used regularly these days to describe the two countries who meet in Brussels on Sunday night, the top and third teams in Group B of Euro 2016.
Both are emerging from long periods absent from major championship finals and both live in the shadow of neighbours – the Netherlands and England, respectively – who hold a powerful sense of their own high status in the world game.
Belgium’s “Red Devils” also see a little of themselves in the roaring “Dragons of Wales”, so says their captain, Vincent Kompany, as revealed by Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey.
“I met Vincent a while back and he told me Wales reminded him of the Belgium team of five years ago,” Ramsey said. “Coming from him, that was a real compliment.”
Kompany, who will miss today’s confrontation with injury, was specific in his dates.
Five years ago, Belgium had just failed to qualify for a World Cup for the second time in succession and they had slipped outside the top 50 in the Fifa ranking.
There were grounds for optimism, though, and a renaissance.
Kompany was at the vanguard of a group of younger players coming through in the local league, who were heavily coveted abroad.
Their names are now household, their price tags lavish: Axel Witsel, for whom Zenit Saint Petersburg paid about €40 million (Dh146m); Eden Hazard, who joined Chelsea for a similar fee in 2012; Thibaut Courtois, Hazard’s Chelsea colleague and the goalkeeper who helped make Atletico Madrid Spanish champions last May; and the list goes on.
For a nation with a population of fewer than 12 million people, Belgium at present punch well above their weight in terms of the individual profile of their players in elite club football, which is as good a measure as any of the goldenness of a generation.
A good example is the defensive unit Belgium took to the World Cup in Brazil – their first major tournament for 12 years.
They reached the last eight with defenders that included four players with freshly minted winners’ medals from the top three leagues in Europe: Courtois and Toby Alderweireld (Atletico), Kompany (Manchester City) and Daniel van Buyten (Bayern Munich).
Up forward, coach Marc Wilmots has a range of choices and an abundance of quick, nimble creative players: Hazard, foremost, as well as Kevin Mirallas, Kevin de Bruyne, Dries Mertens, Nacer Chadli and Adnan Januzaj.
Belgium are at a rare point in their modern footballing history where from over the border in the Netherlands, a country hugely proud of its football culture, the fruits of Belgium’s youth development are regarded with envy.
There is not a lot England, who strut proprietorially around British football, might envy about Wales.
Certainly not the long record of non-participation in tournament competition, which stretches back to a quarter-final in the European championship of 1976.
But there are three or four citizens of Wales’s population of just over three million who would likely secure a place in the English national team: Ramsey, certainly, and possibly Ashley Williams, the Swansea City central defender.
A case might also be made for a fit and in-form Joe Allen of Liverpool. Then there is Gareth Bale, the most costly footballer in the history of the sport.
Should Wales make their way to France for Euro 2016, Bale, for whom Real Madrid paid close to €100m in 2013, will be their standard-bearer, as Hazard will be Belgium’s.
“People talk about Bale and Hazard,” said Chris Coleman, the Wales manager, “and they say Wales are a one-man team and if Hazard doesn’t perform, Belgium don’t perform.”
Coleman is reluctant to buy into that idea any more than Wilmots is to think his Devils are dependent on the Chelsea player, but acknowledges that Bale’s speed is his key weapon, one that will unnerve a Belgian defence lacking Kompany and the injured Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen.
“Belgium have got quality in every position but they’re not invincible,” said Coleman, who has been using the phrase golden generation through Wales unbeaten run in qualifying.
“Our mentality now is we don’t just accept losing. We’ve worked hard at being harder, meaner, more streetwise.”
sports@thenational.ae
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Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
RESULT
Bournemouth 0 Southampton 3 (Djenepo (37', Redmond 45' 1, 59')
Man of the match Nathan Redmond (Southampton)
EXPATS
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
The biog
Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly
Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo
Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.
Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,
She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
