Last September, at the club that employs more members of the Brazil World Cup squad than any other, the manager, Jose Mourinho, made an observation that seems particularly relevant to Tuesday’s semi-final between a Brazil stripped of important manpower and a Germany with a comfortable array of selection dilemmas.
Mourinho, who engaged in a candid and open discussion about why he had left Spain’s Juan Mata on the Chelsea substitutes bench, was championing Oscar, his attacking midfielder.
“Oscar is my No 10,” Mourinho said, talking not of jersey numbers but of the creative, central role behind a striker, “because he plays in that position for the country, Brazil, with more talented players there than anywhere in the world”.
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The argument was reasonable enough, historically, but to revisit it 11 months on is to wonder if it is a little shallow.
Brazil head coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari – who has always given Neymar, who wears the fabled 10 for Brazil, far more licence to dictate play than he has Oscar – has spent the past four days scrabbling around to find a second-best choice for the space between midfield and the front line of attack in the absence of the injured Neymar. Scolari would be forgiven for thinking that, in 2014, there is at least one other country with more talented players for that role than his own.
Germany, for instance.
Were they to lose their leading scorer in the tournament so far, as Brazil have because of Neymar’s fractured vertebra, their crisis would not compare in depth.
Thomas Muller, with his clever, tireless running into the channels, the flanks and between the opposition defensive lines, and his four goals in five matches, would be missed, yet Joachim Loew, the Germany head coach, would be consoled by the knowledge he could ask, say, Mario Gotze to perform some of the same tasks.
If he wanted a little more sheer speed, Loew could call on Andre Schurrle, who Mourinho sometimes prefers at Chelsea, when a match needs winning, late on, to the likes of his Brazilians, Oscar and Willian. A Germany without Muller would also still have Mesut Ozil, perhaps the most classical No 10 in Loew’s first XI, to provide moments of inspiration and, even if Germany were to be without Ozil, they would still be in a pretty good place.
If they wanted somebody to attack from the left wing, where Ozil likes to roam for his national team, they could always use Lukas Podolski, who has 47 international goals from his 116 caps.
Loew lost Marco Reus, the Borussia Dortmund player, to injury before the tournament, which was a blow. Nobody registered more assists in the Bundesliga last season – 14 – than Reus, who also scored 16 league goals.
Loew looked at the absence, counted up the possible understudies and breathed easily. There was hardly an assists-deficit to address as, between them, Muller and Gotze set up 20 league goals – 10 each for Bayern Munich in 2013/14.
Meanwhile, Julian Draxler, the highly rated Schalke creator, has yet to appear at this World Cup. He can afford to be patient and will have to learn to be.
He is 20, so could still have three or four such tournaments ahead of him, although he would be wise to heed the examples set by more senior figures, such as Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
They have shown that to keep a place in the Germany hierarchy, a player must sometimes have to adapt his game because the competition for certain spots is so intense.
Podolski used to be primarily a penalty-box predator, but with so many other players who cannot only finish but do so much creative work outside that zone, he has made himself a more assured crosser with that powerful left foot.
Schweinsteiger won his first caps for Germany as a winger but now commands the centre of midfield and has developed an eye for the measured through-ball and a tenacity in the tackle.
Toni Kroos, 23, made his top-level breakthrough on loan at Bayer Leverskusen, with his creative work wide of the left of midfield. He has broader licence now, for Bayern, and for Germany.
He calls himself a “No 10”.
Most of the many, leading European clubs who covet Kroos – his contract talks with Bayern have stuttered often enough to alert suitors – would happily give him that jersey.
Among the German supporters in Brazil wearing replica shirts, you see a fair spread of No 10s, but they do not monopolise the marketplace like Brazilian 10s.
Partly that is to do with history.
Pele wore 10. So did Zico, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo.
Neymar, who is by far the most magical player of his generation, wears it.
As for the nation with the most talented No 10s in football, Mourinho might have to revise that opinion.
Germany has an abundance and half a dozen of them would command a place in almost any other national side.
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Emergency
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Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
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The specs
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Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The view from The National
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
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8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
FIGHT CARD
Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)
Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)
Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)
Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)
Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)
Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)
Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
Squads
Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara