• Belgium's forward Romelu Lukaku and Belgium's midfielder Thorgan Hazard (R) attend their team's MD-1 training session at the team's base camp in Tubize on July 1, 2021 on the eve of their UEFA EURO 2020 quarter-final football match against Italy. (Photo by Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP)
    Belgium's forward Romelu Lukaku and Belgium's midfielder Thorgan Hazard (R) attend their team's MD-1 training session at the team's base camp in Tubize on July 1, 2021 on the eve of their UEFA EURO 2020 quarter-final football match against Italy. (Photo by Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP)
  • Belgium coach Thierry Henry during training.
    Belgium coach Thierry Henry during training.
  • Belgium defenders Dedryck Boyata, left, and Thomas Meunier.
    Belgium defenders Dedryck Boyata, left, and Thomas Meunier.
  • Belgium coach Thierry Henry, centre, at training.
    Belgium coach Thierry Henry, centre, at training.
  • Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans.
    Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans.
  • Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
    Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
  • Belgium midfielder Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco.
    Belgium midfielder Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco.
  • Belgium manager Roberto Martinez with his assistant Thierry Henry.
    Belgium manager Roberto Martinez with his assistant Thierry Henry.
  • Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku controls the ball during training.
    Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku controls the ball during training.
  • Belgium's Dries Mertens, right, speaks with Toby Alderweireld during training.
    Belgium's Dries Mertens, right, speaks with Toby Alderweireld during training.
  • Belgium forward Christian Benteke.
    Belgium forward Christian Benteke.
  • Belgium manager Roberto Martinez.
    Belgium manager Roberto Martinez.
  • Belgium coach Thierry Henry oversees training.
    Belgium coach Thierry Henry oversees training.
  • Belgium midfielder Thorgan Hazard, centre.
    Belgium midfielder Thorgan Hazard, centre.
  • Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld.
    Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld.
  • Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel, right.
    Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel, right.
  • Belgium's Romelu Lukaku and Thorgan Hazard.
    Belgium's Romelu Lukaku and Thorgan Hazard.
  • Belgium midfielder Thorgan Hazard.
    Belgium midfielder Thorgan Hazard.
  • Belgium's Romelu Lukaku.
    Belgium's Romelu Lukaku.

Belgium train ahead of Italy Euro 2020 tie but wait on De Bruyne and Hazard - in pictures


  • English
  • Arabic

Belgium will "wait until the last minute" before deciding if key duo Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne are fit for their Euro 2020 quarter-final clash with Italy on Friday.

Manchester City midfielder De Bruyne picked up an ankle injury after a challenge from behind from Portugal's Joao Palhinha during Belgium's 1-0 last-16 win and was substituted just after half-time.

Captain Hazard tweaked his hamstring and was taken off three minutes before the end of the game.

Both players missed the Red Devils' final training session on Thursday before the game in Munich 24 hours later, and while full-back Timothy Castagne has rejoined the squad following a fractured eye socket, he is unlikely to feature.

““We all know we are fighting against time,” said Belgium manager Roberto Martinez said of De Bruyne and Hazard's chances of playing at the Allianz Arena. "We are going to wait until the last minute to make that decision.

“We'll see tomorrow if they can be involved or not. Unfortunately, at the moment we cannot make a decision.”

Belgium saw off Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Seville thanks to Thorgan Hazard's goal and held on despite the injuries to De Bruyne and Eden Hazard.

Martinez's side, ranked No 1 in the Fifa world rankings, now face Roberto Mancini's Italy, who have made a perfect start to Euro 2020 and made it 31 matches unbeaten with their last-16 win over Austria, thanks to Matteo Pessina's extra-time winner.

“You are seeing the two best teams statistically in this competition,” said Martinez. “We had to face Portugal really early and now Italy and I think it is a shame for both national teams that we face each other at this stage.”



Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

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

MATCH INFO

New Zealand 176-8 (20 ovs)

England 155 (19.5 ovs)

New Zealand win by 21 runs

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Gulf rugby

Who’s won what so far in 2018/19

Western Clubs Champions League: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Dubai Hurricanes
West Asia Premiership: Bahrain

What’s left

UAE Conference

March 22, play-offs:
Dubai Hurricanes II v Al Ain Amblers, Jebel Ali Dragons II v Dubai Tigers

March 29, final

UAE Premiership

March 22, play-offs: 
Dubai Exiles v Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Hurricanes

March 29, final

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Fixtures (all in UAE time)

Friday

Everton v Burnley 11pm

Saturday

Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm

West Ham United v Southampton 6pm

Wolves v Fulham 6pm

Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm

Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm

Sunday

Chelsea v Watford 5pm

Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm

Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm

Monday

Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm

 

Updated: July 02, 2021, 11:28 AM