Herve Renard praised his Saudi Arabia side despite their Fifa World Cup defeat to Poland on Saturday, and vowed his team would “play to the last seconds” to reach the knockout stage.
The Gulf side, who opened Group C earlier this week with a shock win against Argentina, were beaten 2-0 at Education City Stadium, courtesy of goals from Piotr Zielinski and Robert Lewandowski.
Salem Al Dawsari, scorer of the winner against the South American champions on Tuesday, missed a penalty at the end of the first-half with the score at 1-0.
Poland did strike the woodwork twice in the second half, although Saudi were largely the better side, spurning numerous opportunities to score. Meanwhile, Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was in inspired form.
Saudi, aiming to become only the second side from the kingdom to reach the World Cup knockouts, conclude the group against Mexico on Wednesday.
Speaking directly after the Poland defeat, Renard told reporters: “I’m proud of my players. We were supposed to manage this game in a better way, especially going back to the dressing room 1-1. It was a game-changer, so we weren’t efficient in all the game.
“This is the key of the game... we missed so many opportunities, but we are still alive. We will play to the last seconds of our World Cup next time; for another time we won’t give up.”
Hopes had been high that Saudi could secure a second successive victory that would have guaranteed they progressed from the group and thus emulated their celebrated 1994 team.
Tuesday's win against Argentina, the No 3-ranked side in the world – at No 51, Saudi are second-lowest in the Fifa standings contesting the tournament in Qatar – had raised expectations.
Renard denied his players had got too carried away with the opening result.
“The reaction was a very good reaction,” said the Frenchman, in charge since 2019. “I don’t think a lot of people were able to think Saudi Arabia were able to play this kind of football.
“This is the reason I’m proud of them. When you are a coach you are happy with your players when they are winning the first game, so you have to accept the mistake of losing the second game. But we are still alive.”
Saudi would be left to rue Al Dawsari’s penalty miss in first-half stoppage time – Szczesny made what turned out to be a fantastic double save - and Abdulellah Al Malki’s mistake that led directly to Poland’s second. Saudi squandered a succession of chances also.
“We didn’t lose because we were unlucky, we lost because we were not efficient,” said Renard, who led both Zambia and Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory.
“Al Malki made a mistake for the second goal, but I have to support all the players. This is how I am managing all my teams. It’s too easy to find someone guilty because he made a mistake.
“I know for most of you the most important is the result, because this is football. But we are still alive. We will play the third game with the same energy.”
On the partisan support his team enjoyed at a packed Education City Stadium in Doha, Renard said: “What we need for the third game is the same fans, so I hope they won’t give up. When you’re a fan you need to support your team when it’s a fantastic day, but you have to support your team to make history in the third game.
“I would like to see one more time a green stadium. I want to see them support the players. They deserve it. We have to be proud of them.
“I know they are sad. Some of them are guilty, but football is team work. Since the last three years, we got a lot of success. Today we failed but we are failing together.
“The most important is we have one more game and I hope the second-last one and maybe more. So it’s important to stay concentrated, to think about November 30.”
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The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
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
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Schedule for show courts
Centre Court - from 4pm UAE time
Johanna Konta (6) v Donna Vekic
Andy Murray (1) v Dustin Brown
Rafael Nadal (4) v Donald Young
Court 1 - from 4pm UAE time
Kei Nishikori (9) v Sergiy Stakhovsky
Qiang Wang v Venus Williams (10)
Beatriz Haddad Maia v Simona Halep (2)
Court 2 - from 2.30pm
Heather Watson v Anastasija Sevastova (18)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) v Simone Bolelli
Florian Mayer v Marin Cilic (7)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
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The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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