A baffled Zlatko Dalic acknowledged his Croatia side were not "a shadow of the team" who reached the World Cup final in July as they suffered the country's heaviest ever defeat as they were trounced 6-0 by Spain in their first competitive match since the tournament in Russia.
Saul Niguez headed in a cross by Dani Carvajal in the 24th minute, then Marco Asensio hit two remarkable long-range shots in the 33rd and 35th to give Luis Enrique's team a comfortable lead before half time.
His second strike bounced off the post and the back of goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic, who was awarded an own goal.
Asensio, who was not among the starters against England, also set up Rodrigo's goal early in the second half with a perfect through ball behind the defence.
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Read more
Former Al Ain manager Zlatko Dalic remains in charge of Croatia after World Cup run
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Zlatko Dalic tells crestfallen Croatia players 'hold your heads up high'
Gary Meenaghan: Croatia can stand tall after coming up short in final
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Sergio Ramos, one of the remaining members of Spain's golden generation, added the fifth goal with a header off a corner kick in the 57th minute, and Isco closed the scoring in the 70th after another set up by Asensio.
Croatia fell apart after defender Sime Vrsaljko had to be substituted due to an injury just minutes before Spain's first goal.
"We were very good in the first 20 minutes, we had three clear chances, but after that and Vrsaljko's injury, we vanished from the pitch," Dalic, the former Al Ain manager, said. "We were not even a shadow of the team from before."
The result continued Luis Enrique's promising start to life as Spain manager, with the result coming after they had beaten England 2-1 on Saturday.
"They had chances in the beginning but after that we were clearly superior," Enrique said. "It's difficult to find anything to criticise after a match played at this level. Our attitude has been commendable."
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Samaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
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Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
