Scotland are regularly represented at major competitions. In South Africa in 2010, a band of merry Scots attended the World Cup group match between Slovenia and the United States in Johannesburg.
Nobody quite knew why this small group of kilt-clad men were there, as their football team has failed to qualify for an international tournament in 14 years. They wore white T-shirts with a bold slogan emblazoned across the front: "Anyone But England".
Expect similar this summer in Ukraine and Poland. Scotland have failed to qualify once again for the European Championship, but members of the Tartan Army are sure to travel.
And they will probably be supporting - initially at least - France, Sweden and Ukraine. Or, fundamentally, anybody who has the opportunity to beat the English.
Call it hatred or loathing or serious dislike; call it genial banter, a bit o' fun or just a wee laugh. However you dress it up, the majority of we Scots will certainly not be showing support to our neighbours south of the border.
And not because we do not like the English people or the team's players - many Scottish football supporters also support English club sides - but rather because of what happened following a summer tournament that took place 46 years ago.
The traditionally hostile relationship between the two countries dates back many centuries to when Scotland was oppressively ruled by the English, but the Scots' enmity towards their rival's football team has not always been so strong.
Having grown up in Glasgow pestering older relatives for an insight into their sepia-tinged past, it is my understanding that during the regrettable summer that followed the winter of 1965 (the year itself must never be mentioned), many Scots watching the World Cup final on television were actually supporting their British brethren.
When Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy, there was genuine pleasure on the streets of Scotland.
However, what was unforeseen - and what changed the amiable landscape - was the unreserved and unrelenting triumphalism that followed.
Since that fateful summer, myopic English media have proclaimed their country - mistakenly referred to as inventors of the "Beautiful Game" - to be on the verge of emulating their previous achievement.
Television analysts commentating on, say, Spain versus Holland, will forever manage to mention the year directly preceding 1967.
Nobody enjoys a persistent braggart and even less so when the cause for celebration is a former glory achieved three years before man landed on the moon, five years before the UAE was founded and 30 years before the Spice Girls released their debut single, Wannabe.
Much like the song title, England - to the Scots - are merely a wannabe footballing giant living off a previous success.
The only benefit Scotland derives from this shameless English boasting is that now whenever the Auld Enemy arrive at an international tournament, they do so with delusions of grandeur, which unfailingly results in an even harsher reality check when, having succumbed to the unendurable level of self-imposed pressure, they crash out with a whimper.
Ideally, on penalties.
This month's Euros, however, bucks the trend and, for that reason, it is terrifying. For the first time in memory, the English will travel to a major competition without the lofty expectations that so often plague them.
With several key players out and an unheralded coach, they go to Eastern Europe with the genuine belief they could be travelling home before the knockout stages. To a Scot, this lack of expectation is commonplace, but to the English it is almost unheard of.
The most unpalatable thought going into any major tournament is the notion that England might win. Yet without the paralysing pressure, Roy Hodgson's team have a chance of performing to their potential.
Whatever that may be remains to be seen, but they have never had a better chance to play unhindered. It is for this precise reason why Scotland and its people must take the place of the usually optimistic English media. They must get behind their southern brothers and convince them they can win.
What other nation can boast a Champions League winning centre-half pairing of John Terry and Gary Cahill? Who else has the strength and solidity in midfield of Premier League winner James Milner and Carling Cup winner Steven Gerrard?
Who else has an unplayable target man such as Liverpool's Andy Carroll? The answer to all of the above is nobody.
England can win the European Championship. England can win the European Championship. England can win the European Championship.
If the Scots repeat it enough, Hodgson and his men might believe it. And if that happens, they will almost certainly fail. Like they have for the past 46 years.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
BRIEF SCORES
England 353 and 313-8 dec
(B Stokes 112, A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85)
(J Bairstow 63, T Westley 59, J Root 50; K Maharaj 3-50)
South Africa 175 and 252
(T Bavuma 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25)
(D Elgar 136; M Ali 4-45, T Roland-Jones 3-72)
Result: England won by 239 runs
England lead four-match series 2-1
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The 12
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
