I'm in total agreement about the generally awful state of official World Cup songs (see Saeed Saeed's column here), and have to say that this year's decidedly un-Brazilian effort by the American R&B stars Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez is no exception.
But if you look beyond the official and out to the periphery, you may be surprised to find that some football songs are actually rather good. Here are some favourites.
Black Grape ft Joe Strummer and Keith Allen – England's Irie (1996)
The Mancunian bad boys, born from the ashes of The Happy Mondays, The Ruthless Rap Assassins and The Paris Angels, enlisted the help of the late, great Joe Strummer and the rent-a-mouth actor/comedian Keith Allen for this effort to cheer England on at the England '96 European Championships. Of course, the song everyone remembers from that year's tournament was Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds' insipid lads' anthem Three Lions, but this was what was rocking the dance floors where I was. History has at least been kind in completely forgetting that tournament's official song, We're in This Together – it was by Simply Red, for goodness' sake.
Pop Will Eat Itself – Touched by the Hand of Cicciolina (1990)
Stourbridge’s finest, the Grebo legends Pop Will Eat Itself celebrated Italia ’90 with this number dedicated to the Hungarian-born actress Cicciolina, who was elected to the Italian parliament in 1987. Rather optimistically, the band decided it would be much more fun to have her present the trophy in Italy rather than the usual Fifa suits and every copy of the 12” single came with a petition for buyers to send to Fifa. The campaign was, unsurprisingly, unsuccessful, but at least the single peaked at No 28 and stayed in the UK charts for four weeks.
Fat Les – Vindaloo (1998)
Keith Allen’s 1996 outing with Black Grape obviously got him in the mood for more football songs, and to celebrate France ’98, he teamed up with the artist Damien Hirst and the Blur bassist Alex James for this four-minute stompalong that, by all logical criteria, should be dismissed as rubbish, but somehow comes out as raucous-anthem-meets-cheeky-social-commentary on some of Allen’s native England’s obsessions – primarily football, tea and curry.
Collapsed Lung – Eat My Goal (1996/1998)
A catchy little number from the Harlow hip-hop outfit, featuring possibly the simplest, yet most memorable, one-string guitar hook ever. The single was originally co-opted by Coca-Cola for its Eat Football, Sleep Football, Drink Coca-Cola Euro '96 campaign, but had its greatest chart success when it was re-released to coincide with the 1998 World Cup in France and charted at No 18 in the UK singles charts. It has since been used on numerous football shows and the video game LMA Manager 2001. Although Collapsed Lung split in 1996, the lead rapper Jim Burke is still well known for his work as Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer.
Midfield General – Devil in Sports Casual (1998)
Another France '98 number. This track from Skint Records' owner Damian Harris, aka Midfield General, was originally released in 1997, but as the bandwagon got into motion for the World Cup the following year it found its way on to the big-selling Big Beat Elite Repeat album, which came complete with a tenuous football theme to cash in on the year's events. This tune is actually one of the few on the album that makes any direct reference to any sort of sporting activity, but it's a good one and you can't blame the General if the album's compilers ran out of football-related tunes one track in and left the rest of the linking to the cover artists and the free Extra Time mix CD.
cnewbould@thenational.ae
RESULT
Uruguay 3 Russia 0
Uruguay: Suárez (10'), Cheryshev (23' og), Cavani (90')
Russia: Smolnikov (Red card: 36')
Man of the match: Diego Godin (Uruguay)
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is safeguarding?
“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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
Lowest Test scores
26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955
30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896
30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924
35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899
36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932
36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902
36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020
38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019
42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946
42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets