Vicente del Bosque will try to lead Spain to successive World Cup titles this year. Andre Penner / AP
Vicente del Bosque will try to lead Spain to successive World Cup titles this year. Andre Penner / AP
Vicente del Bosque will try to lead Spain to successive World Cup titles this year. Andre Penner / AP
Vicente del Bosque will try to lead Spain to successive World Cup titles this year. Andre Penner / AP

Fan support ‘could come back to bite’ Brazil at World Cup by adding pressure, says Spain’s Del Bosque


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Spain coach Vicente del Bosque believes Brazil could crack under the pressure as this year’s World Cup hosts bid to exorcise the ghosts of their 1950 nightmare.

Brazil scored an emphatic victory over del Bosque’s reigning world champions in the final of last year’s Confederations Cup, boosting the hosts’ hopes of a repeat triumph at the World Cup.

However, speaking on the sidelines of a two-day seminar for World Cup coaches on Wednesday in Brazil, del Bosque said the home side’s famously passionate support could prove to be a burden.

“Brazil will have the fans behind them but this could come back to bite them as it heaps the pressure on,” warned del Bosque, who insisted his side’s Confederations Cup loss to the Selecao is “water under the bridge.”

The possibility of Brazilian failure on home soil continues to loom large for the hosts, 64 years after their famous defeat to Uruguay at the climax of the 1950 tournament.

The 2-1 loss before nearly 200,000 fans at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium is regarded as something close to a national tragedy, a traumatic and humiliating defeat that remains one of the World Cup’s greatest upsets.

Croatia coach Niko Kovac, whose side will open the tournament against the hosts in Sao Paolo on June 12, also warned that Brazil might be overwhelmed by the pressure.

“Brazil will have a big support, not only at the stadium but also from 200 million people in front of their televisions. But at the same time it is a pressure for the host, which could be our advantage,” he said.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari insisted however that the country had learnt from the past and would be able to cope with the weight of expectation.

“Before 1950, Brazil had never been to the final,” Scolari told reporters. “They acted as pioneers for our five titles won since.”

Scolari, who masterminded Brazil’s last World Cup triumph, at the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea, had no qualms about setting the bar high for his current side.

Critics say his side is far from the vintage Brazilian teams of old.

“We have to think big and aim to win it,” he said. “Otherwise what am I doing here as coach?”

Wednesday’s seminar opened a day after football’s world governing body Fifa dropped a threat to exclude Curitiba as one of 12 venues for this year’s tournament.

Fifa gave the Arena da Baixada a reprieve after preparations were stepped up over the past month.

Despite concerns over venue readiness and security several coaches said they expected Brazil to stage a successful World Cup, noting that pre-tournament fears at past editions had often proven unfounded.

“People had various concerns ahead of South Africa in 2010,” said Cameroon coach Volker Finke.

“There were the same discussions on how it might be difficult because of organisation, how it (the host nation) wasn’t European-style.

“But I am confident things will go off all right,” said Finke as he and 24 other coaches attended the seminar.

Iran’s Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, whose team will play Nigeria at the venue, said he always believed Curitiba would make it.

“I think it can be a great World Cup – with players like (Lionel) Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo we should savour it,” said Queiroz.

Alluding to the controversy over Curitiba, he said: “It’s always like that – part of the (preparations) package.

“There were a couple of situations with frustrating moments, some shaky moments.

“But my gut feeling was there was no way Curitiba could lose this opportunity to be in the World Cup.

“Okay, there were a couple of problems but with due respect 50 per cent was media speculation,” former Real Madrid and Portugal coach Queiroz said.

Brazil’s preparations have been hit by public protests over the cost of staging the event – and the Rio Olympics in 2016 – rather than investing in poor infrastructure.

Several coaches did not attend the workshop, including those of Germany, Algeria, Belgium, Chile, Italy and Japan.

With less than four months to go, the coaches, who will discuss security issues Thursday, looked at a range of logistics topics including medical and media issues, accommodation and marketing.

The coaches will give a final press conference Thursday ahead of Friday’s Local Organising Committee board meeting.

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Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

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Sand storm

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Dust storm

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  • Duration: Can linger for days
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  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
MO
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Company%20Profile
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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback

Price, base: Dh315,000

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm

Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km

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Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.

5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls

Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs

B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Defending champions

World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack

Results

6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m

Winner: Barack Beach, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).

7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.

7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner: Woodditton, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.

8.15pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner: Secret Trade, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

8.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Mark Of Approval, Antonio Fresu, Mahmood Hussain.

9.25pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner: Tradesman, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.