Spain’s 0-1 friendly defeat to Georgia, a team ranked 137th in the world, on Tuesday could be just the shock to the system that the reigning European champions need.
If they’re celebrating a third successive European crown in a month in Paris then the friendly defeat – their first loss in 15 months – won’t matter one bit, but it exposed the niggling issues affecting Vicente del Bosque’s squad.
None of the other 23 competing squads could think of leaving out midfielders of the quality possessed by Spain, yet their worry has been the lack of a go-to striker.
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Midfielder Cesc Fabregas had even played further upfield in the false nine role beloved by amateur football tacticians, but Juventus’ Alvaro Morata looks set to lead Spain’s line. The Madrileno, who is about to leave the Turin club, missed the game against Georgia with a minor injury, but eight of the starting line-up could be expected to begin Spain’s first game against Czech Republic in Toulouse on Monday.
Spain’s back five of David de Gea; Juanfran, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos and Jordi Alba is their best, but it was they who were caught short against the Georgians. The defeat need not matter.
Spain enjoyed 80 per cent of possession, but Georgia were happy to defend as their Euro foes will have noted. Spain’s defensive record in qualification wasn’t bettered by any of the competing teams, but they have to get goals.
Aritz Aduriz didn’t impress against Georgia and Del Bosque maintains Morata can be a star. He’ll have a better midfield support – led by Andres Iniesta - than any other player in France.
There were doubts at the start of Euro 2012, before Spain improved to hammer Italy 4-0 in the final. There are doubts now, but this stylish Spanish team undoubtedly has the quality to retain the trophy.
Their group, featuring Turkey, Croatia and the Czechs, is sufficiently hard to get them well prepared for tougher matches.
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Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
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Number of tracks: 11
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2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar
Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5