The one man is gone. Now we shall see if the team departs the World Cup, too.
Collective sports have few more damning descriptions than "one-man team". Ten footballers are deemed irrelevant; the result depends on the maestro among them.
This World Cup has been conducted to a backdrop of debate if the South American superpowers were little more than one-man teams, if Argentina and Brazil were being dragged forwards by Lionel Messi and Neymar, respectively.
One Barcelona talent remains but the other is hurt. So Brazil, the world's greatest footballing nation, the country that invariably produces enviably gifted flair players, look suddenly bereft.
"Neymar, rest assured that our group loves you and give life to win this title for you," said striker Fred in a rather florid tribute.
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Neymar, in a video released by the Brazilian Football Federation, said: "I'm certain my teammates will do everything so my dream, which is to be a champion, comes true."
Yet they have few obvious World Cup winners in their midfield and forward ranks. The alternative fantasistas are ageing and excluded from the squad. There is no Robinho, no Ronaldinho, no Kaka. Alexandre Pato, once the wonder boy of the Brazilian game, did not make the squad either. Neither did Lucas Moura, his counterpart.
None of which would be as important if the men Luiz Felipe Scolari selected had delivered. Now attention switches from the sidelined Neymar to his sidekicks, to Fred, Hulk and Oscar. If they are the three underachievers, Fred is the failure in chief.
His World Cup has encompassed a dive that undeservedly drew a penalty against Croatia, a goal against a dreadful Cameroon side and little else.
It has been an exercise in anonymity from the top scorer in last year's Confederations Cup. He has drawn comparisons with the undistinguished Serginho, the blunt spearhead of the hugely gifted 1982 side.
Occasionally the country of Ronaldo and Romario find themselves short of strikers. They normally compensate with class in deeper positions.
Not now. Scolari summed up Neymar's importance by branding him "our benchmark". Others have not reached the standards he set.
Oscar began brightly but his encouraging scoring display against Croatia was deceptive. Since then, he has amassed impressive tackling statistics but offered rather less incision.
Then there is Hulk, who was culpable for Chile's goal and missed a penalty in the shoot-out but at least looked livelier. It required several fine saves from Colombia's David Ospina to deny him a first strike of the tournament.
To call it encouraging is relative. Brazil have seemed to have a one-man attack.
But injury has inspired Brazil before. Pele cited the 1962 World Cup triumph, after he was ruled out. Then, Brazil had Garrincha, Vava and Mario Zagallo. Now they have Fred, Hulk and Oscar. Once again, the current side do not look a patch on their past.
Garrincha's skills were such that he was the player of the tournament and joint top scorer in 1962. It is inconceivable any of Neymar's support acts could emulate him.
More than half a century ago, Amarildo, promoted from the sidelines, proved an effective understudy for Pele. He scored three goals, which is as many as Brazil's midfielders and forwards – Neymar apart – have managed between them in five games.
While Amarildo slotted in seamlessly back then, it is harder to identify a replacement now. Oscar can move infield to play behind Fred, perhaps accommodating winger Bernard or allowing them to use the stamina of Ramires or Willian on the right.
The midfielder Hernanes is an alternative, striker Jo perhaps the least enticing option of all. Whoever steps in, he will be no Neymar.
So it is tempting to wonder if the host's hopes ended when Colombia's Juan Zuniga kneed Neymar in the back. A fractured vertebra could mean a broken dream, especially as Neymar is not the only absentee.
Captain Thiago Silva is suspended. Perhaps the eventual verdict will be that Brazil were not a one-man, but a two-man team.
sports@thenational.ae
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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
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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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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
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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
Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
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Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
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In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
