Once more, Mohamed Salah dominated the build-up.
The Egyptian forward’s short-term future has been the subject of continued debate since he collided with Sergio Ramos and crashed to the Kiev turf almost four weeks ago. A shoulder problem threw his World Cup in jeopardy, threw a spanner in Egypt’s preparations. It threw a football-obsessed country into panic.
The injury kept Salah out of Friday's initial World Cup clash with Uruguay, Egypt's marquee man named on the bench but remaining an unused substitute. Without him, his side conceded in the final minute to lose their Group A opener 1-0.
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More from 2018 World Cup:
World Cup free-kicks: Where does Kolarov's against Costa Rica rank in the top 5?
World Cup Day 5: All the news, scores and reports from Russia in one place
World Cup nightmares: Messi's Iceland miss and 10 other horror moments
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But then came the good news on Monday: Salah looks certain to play his part in Egypt’s second assignment against Russia the following day. He will probably even start in Saint Petersburg. It could, finally, be the ending to the saga his colleagues and his countrymen crave.
“Salah is fit,” manager Hector Cup told a media conference before taking his team for their final training session pre-Russia. “In the previous match against Uruguay, we thought he was fit also, but we always carry out a last physical test before we decide the line-up and today we will have an important test to see how he does.
“I hope he will be fully fit to play. I sure he will be able to play. He’s an essential piece in our team.”
Isn’t he just? Salah is not merely Egypt’s talisman, but he was their top scorer through qualifying, helping his tally climb to 33 goals in 57 international appearances. Before his injury, he struck 44 times in his debut season with Liverpool.
Against Russia, Salah’s ability to affect the most important matches, so evident in the match against Congo last October that sealed Egypt’s spot in Russia, will no doubt be required once more.
Having routed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the tournament curtain-raiser last Thursday, the World Cup hosts know victory would almost guarantee progression to the World Cup's last 16. Egypt understand a win for them feels necessary, too. So, then, does Salah's participation.
“Salah is one of the best in the world,” Cuper said. “He’s in the top 10 today. For me, there’s no shadow of a doubt. It’s an honour and a privilege to coach him. Because on top of being talented, he’s humble, he’s a team player. And that for me is extremely important nowadays.
“Whether he’s an important player for us, no one can deny that. The fact that we can count on him - I’m not saying he’s a guarantee - but he’s definitely an important offensive weapon.
“When we don’t have him we feel his absence and we need to come up with alternatives. Hopefully tomorrow he’ll be up to play. I’m optimistic he will be able to play.”
Cuper defended criticism that his philosophy is too cautious - he has taken one recognised striker to Russia - declaring he has “no room for regrets”. Although Egypt have not won in seven matches, scoring only three goals, the Argentine confirmed they will play for the win on Tuesday.
Yet Salah’s shadow still hung over the conference. Later, he looked in some discomfort when jogging around the Saint Peterburg Stadium. Sitting alongside Cuper in the conference, veteran goalkeeper Essam El Hadary was asked if the constant speculation surrounding Salah had represented an unnecessary distraction.
“We are 23 players, remember that,” El Hadary said. “And we are very happy that Mo Salah is with us and has recovered. We are all ready, and all of us hope that he will participate. Mr Cuper and the technical team will decide if he will participate.
“All of us - the players, the staff - are very ready to face Russia tomorrow. And hopefully we will get the three points. Because all our players believe it would be our launching pad into the second round.”
Kill
Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Starring: Lakshya, Tanya Maniktala, Ashish Vidyarthi, Harsh Chhaya, Raghav Juyal
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Company Profile
Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
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WWE Super ShowDown results
Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin to retain his WWE Universal title
Finn Balor defeated Andrade to stay WWE Intercontinental Championship
Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns
Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party
Randy Orton beats Triple H
Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley
Kofi Kingston wins against Dolph Zigggler to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal
The Undertaker beat Goldberg
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
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Company Profile
Name: Raha
Started: 2022
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Industry: Tech Logistics
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food + Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
