Chile's Mauricio Isla, Eduardo Vargas, Arturo Vidal and Gonzalo Jara (L-R) celebrate after their first goal during their 2014 World Cup Group B soccer match against Spain at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro June 18, 2014. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Chile's Mauricio Isla, Eduardo Vargas, Arturo Vidal and Gonzalo Jara (L-R) celebrate after their first goal during their 2014 World Cup Group B soccer match against Spain at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro June 18, 2014. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Chile's Mauricio Isla, Eduardo Vargas, Arturo Vidal and Gonzalo Jara (L-R) celebrate after their first goal during their 2014 World Cup Group B soccer match against Spain at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro June 18, 2014. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Chile's Mauricio Isla, Eduardo Vargas, Arturo Vidal and Gonzalo Jara (L-R) celebrate after their first goal during their 2014 World Cup Group B soccer match against Spain at the Maracana stadium in Ri

A look back on 10 of the biggest World Cup shocks


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Chile eliminated holders Spain just two games into the group stages of the 2014 World Cup with a 2-0 Group B victory on Wednesday night.

Here is a look back on 10 of the biggest shocks in World Cup finals:

USA 1 England 0, Brazil 1950

The most humiliating defeat in England’s history. The tournament favourites dominated to start with but in the 37th minute the US stunned them by taking the lead through Larry Gaetjens.

Walter Winterbottom’s side could not hit back and suffered a hugely embarrassing defeat.

North Korea 1 Italy 0, England 1966

Arguably the most surprising World Cup scoreline ever. Italy were expected to thump the Asian minnows but, against all the odds, the Koreans’ defence held firm against the might of the Europeans.

The now legendary Pak Doo Ik was on hand to score a scarcely believable winner.

Scotland 3 Holland 2, Argentina 1978

Holland’s celebrated ‘total football’ side were in their prime, brimming with confidence and fully expected to dish out a real lesson to the Scots.

However, Archie Gemmill had other ideas and fired a superb brace, and with Kenny Dalglish also popping up to score, the Dutch were defeated.

Cameroon 1 Argentina 0, Italy 1990

Cameroon, reduced to nine men after a double sending-off, produced another strong candidate for the biggest-ever World Cup shock against the reigning champions.

In only Cameroon’s second appearance in the finals, they stunned the South Americans and stole the hearts of supporters when Omam Biyik headed home the winner.

Costa Rica 1 Scotland 0, Italy 1990

Another of the catalogue of embarrassing results in Scotland’s history. Juan Cayasso condemned the Scots to one of their darkest days with the only goal.

Scotland turned in a dreadful performance and set the wheels in motion for another first-round exit.

Republic of Ireland 1 Italy 0, USA 1994

Even Ireland’s travelling army could surely not have believed their side would defeat the mighty Italy.

But Jack Charlton’s men did exactly that, thanks to Ray Houghton’s brilliant 25-yard strike that screamed into the net. The Irish defence kept the Italian strike force at bay as Charlton’s men sent their supporters into ecstasy.

France 0 Senegal 1, Japan and South Korea 2002

The world and European champions were left stunned in their opening game of the tournament through a goal from El Hadji Diouf.

France went close and hit the woodwork twice, but the African nation held on for victory.

USA 3 Portugal 2, Japan and South Korea 2002

America surged into an incredible 3-0 lead after only half-an-hour thanks to goals from John O’Brien, an own goal from Jorge Costa, and Brian McBride.

Beto scored just before the interval to give the fancied Europeans hope and Jeff Agoos’ second-half own goal set American nerves jangling - but they hung on for a famous victory.

Italy 1 South Korea 2, Japan and South Korea 2002

Ahn Jung-hwan, who missed a first-half penalty, was the Korean hero with the dramatic winner three minutes from the end of extra-time in this second round match.

In an extraordinary encounter, Seol Ki-hyeon scored in the 88th minute to cancel out Christian Vieri’s opener. Italy striker Francesco Totti was also dismissed in extra-time.

Spain 0 Switzerland 1, South Africa 2010

Switzerland stunned European champions Spain with a narrow win in the teams’ Group H opener in Durban.

Gelson Fernandes got the only goal in the 52nd minute, before Spain’s Xabi Alonso was denied by the crossbar in the 71st minute. Spain wasted a hatful of other chances - and the Swiss held on.

Follow our sports coverage on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

A Dog's Journey 

Directed by: Gail Mancuso

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott

3 out of 5 stars

The biog

Name: Gul Raziq

From: Charsadda, Pakistan

Family: Wife and six children

Favourite holes at Al Ghazal: 15 and 8

Golf Handicap: 6

Childhood sport: cricket 

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)

Engine 5.2-litre V10

Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch

Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm

Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est) 

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

The chef's advice

Troy Payne, head chef at Abu Dhabi’s newest healthy eatery Sanderson’s in Al Seef Resort & Spa, says singles need to change their mindset about how they approach the supermarket.

“They feel like they can’t buy one cucumber,” he says. “But I can walk into a shop – I feed two people at home – and I’ll walk into a shop and I buy one cucumber, I’ll buy one onion.”

Mr Payne asks for the sticker to be placed directly on each item, rather than face the temptation of filling one of the two-kilogram capacity plastic bags on offer.

The chef also advises singletons not get too hung up on “organic”, particularly high-priced varieties that have been flown in from far-flung locales. Local produce is often grown sustainably, and far cheaper, he says.

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

RESULTS

6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko

7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor

20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill

8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara

9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Rating: 2/5
T20 World Cup Qualifier

Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets

Qualified teams

1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman

T20 World Cup 2020, Australia

Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland

SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)

Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)

Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)

AUSTRALIA%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EPat%20Cummins%20(capt)%2C%20Scott%20Boland%2C%20Alex%20Carey%2C%20Cameron%20Green%2C%20Marcus%20Harris%2C%20Josh%20Hazlewood%2C%20Travis%20Head%2C%20Josh%20Inglis%2C%20Usman%20Khawaja%2C%20Marnus%20Labuschagne%2C%20Nathan%20Lyon%2C%20Mitchell%20Marsh%2C%20Todd%20Murphy%2C%20Matthew%20Renshaw%2C%20Steve%20Smith%2C%20Mitchell%20Starc%2C%20David%20Warner%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

The specs

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm

Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh130,000

On sale: now

MATCH INFO

Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)

TV: Abu Dhabi Sports

A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro
Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books