The UAE taking on West Germany in Milan, Italy, during the 1990 World Cup. Photo courtesy Al Ittihad
The UAE taking on West Germany in Milan, Italy, during the 1990 World Cup. Photo courtesy Al Ittihad

UAE’s match against West Germany at Italia ‘90 remains a high-water mark



On this day 24 years ago – June 15, 1990 – the UAE national team played the biggest match in the country's football history.

Their second group match at Italia ’90 proved to be a painful experience, the Emiratis going down 5-1 to West Germany at the San Siro stadium in Milan.

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But the scoreline overlooks the bigger picture. This was a magnificent German team that won the competition by beating Argentina 1-0 in the final in Rome.

Franz Beckenbauer’s team also thrashed an excellent Yugoslavia 4-1 in Group D, in which the UAE lost all three games. Colombia were the other team in the group

In Milan, in one of the biggest World Cup mismatches, the UAE held the Germans at bay for more than half an hour. In goal Mohsin Musabah performed heroics and the German strikers, led by Jurgen Klinsmann, were denied several clear-cut chances.

Then two quick goals, by Rudi Voller in the 35th minute and Klinsmann two minutes later, looked to have brought the Emirati resistance to an end.

Yet when Carlos Alberto Parreira's team came out for the second half, they had renewed spirit.

Within a minute of the restart, Khalid Ismail scored one of the UAE's most famous goals to halve the deficit and allow the few Emirati fans inside the stadium, and thousands back home, to dream of a famous comeback.

Sadly, the dream lasted barely a minute as German captain Lothar Matthaus scored a superb, curled goal to restore the two-goal lead.

Further strikes by Uwe Bein and Voller completed the rout and, having lost their opening match 2-0 to Colombia, the UAE were on their way out of the World Cup.

In the stands of the San Siro, a lone fan stood waving the UAE flag. He knew there was no shame in losing to such an experienced team – simply qualifying for the tournament was the UAE's biggest achievement.

Twenty-four years on, we are still waiting for that feat to be emulated.

akhaled@thenational.ae

Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE

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1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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.

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While you're here ...

Damien McElroy: What happens to Brexit?

Con Coughlin: Could the virus break the EU?

Andrea Matteo Fontana: Europe to emerge stronger

Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now

There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:

1. Rising US interest rates

The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.

Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”

At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.

2. Stronger dollar

High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.” 

3. Global trade war

Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”

4. Eurozone uncertainty

Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”

The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”

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Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020

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192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.


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