If it was all about Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, it felt all very Roberto Martinez-esque. Belgium’s captain and record scorer scored twin doubles for one of the few favourites to truly show their attacking prowess. “Qualification after two games, you cannot ask for more,” said Martinez. It is elimination for a thrashed, beleaguered Tunisia team.
A match of 39 shots proved the highest-scoring game of the tournament. “There was a lot of action in both boxes,” added Martinez. Frequently brilliant going forward, sometimes dodgy defensively, Belgium will enliven the World Cup, whether or not they win it. In the truest tradition of Martinez teams, they were flawed but hugely entertaining.
Regardless of whether the side end up with silverware, their record scorer could leave Russia with a personal prize. Martinez had claimed Lukaku was not focused on the Golden Boot. He may win it, anyway. He joined Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the leaderboard with his second successive double. He may have overhauled the Portuguese had he not been withdrawn with half an hour to go. By then, Lukaku had already surpassed Jan Ceulemans, a stalwart of three World Cups, as Belgium’s leading scorer in major tournaments.
He could savour a change of fortune. He had an underwhelming World Cup in 2014, mustering a lone goal. He is more clinical now, scoring with each of his first four shots on target. His first goal, and Belgium’s second, was angled into the far corner from 15 yards. Dries Mertens had supplied him as Tunisia were caught on the break. A delicate dink followed after Thomas Meunier split a shambolic defence with a through ball.
Hazard had already opening the scoring, converting the penalty after he was bundled over by Syam Ben Youssef. His second was an illustration of the outstanding Kevin de Bruyne’s ability to unlock defences from deep, his through ball allowing Hazard to scurry through, flick the ball past goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha and slot the ball into the unguarded net.
His replacement Michy Batshuayi added a fifth, though only after having an effort cleared off the line by Yassine Meriah and slamming a shot against the bar in a profligate cameo. Belgium were wasteful – an accusation that has been levelled against previous Martinez sides – but creative as they fashioned a host of chances. Unlike against Panama, they began brightly, intimidating with their ability. They sprang Tunisia’s offside trap time and again. Meunier and Mertens formed a potent partnership on the right, each displaying fine movement. Yet their wing-backs operated like wingers, leaving space behind them.
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Read more on World Cup 2018:
World Cup 2018: Day 10 updates - Belgium hammer Tunisia 5-2
Comment: Perspective needed over furore caused by images of leaked England team
World Cup 2018: Ronaldo's hat-trick, Musa magic and the 10 best moments of the tournament so far
World Cup 2018: Messi overreaction, Salah's early exit and 10 worst moments so far
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It was a reason why Tunisia had so many opportunities. Anice Badri had a series of shots. Wahbi Khazri eventually scored in injury time and had troubled Belgium with his dead-ball prowess. Their earlier goal was far from the first time a Martinez side have looked disorganised in defence or been found wanting at set-pieces. Dylan Bronn had met Khazri’s free kick with a glancing header.
It was a bittersweet occasion for Bronn, who was carried off on a stretcher seven minutes after scoring. Tunisia lost their major talent, Youssef Msakni, before the World Cup, their first-choice goalkeeper in the opening game and two defenders by half time in the second. If they were luckless, they were also hapless at the back.
It was hard to say if their full-backs were worse than their central defenders or vice versa and, unlike some of the minnows who had displayed resilience at first, they have specialised in disastrous starts: a goal down after 11 minutes against England, two adrift after 16 versus Belgium. They could have scored more but were fortunate not to concede at least two others. Such is the nature of Martinez’s Belgium.
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
