MALMO // Theo Walcott is expected to play as a central striker for England Under 21s in their European Championship final against Germany tonight - and he predicts that position will be his long-term role for club and country.
Walcott has spent most of his career stationed on the flanks, but England U21 coach Stuart Pearce has Gabriel Agbonlahor and Fraizer Campbell suspended for tonight's clash.
The only realistic option is Walcott, with Pearce believing the Arsenal youngster's pace will be a problem for the Germans, even though the 20-year-old has rarely played centrally. "I probably will end up being a striker," Walcott said. "The boss at Arsenal [Arsene Wenger] said I would have probably played little bit more up front last season if I'd not got injured, like in FA Cup games and Carling Cup games. But I'll play anywhere as long as I'm on that pitch."
Starting on the wing and ending up as a striker was the path of Gunners' Thierry Henry, with Walcott inheriting his No 14 shirt. He was also given 14 when he made himself available for the U21 squad, despite establishing himself in the seniors.
"I didn't expect to get it but it's an absolute result," Walcott added yesterday.
"It doesn't really matter what number is on the back. As long as it's an England shirt I'm happy.
"I actually wanted the No 8 shirt at Arsenal but they told me Samir Nasri had that. I didn't even know we'd signed him at the time.
"So they told me 14 and I said 'yeah, I'll have that' not realising it was Thierry's number until I got home. It's just a number but he's a great player to live up to. That's the pressure. That's no problem."
Meanwhile, Germany will be without one of their central players due to suspension: Wolfsburg's burgeoning Iranian-born attacker Ashkan Dejagah, who picked up a yellow in the semi- final against Italy on Friday.
While England could be lamenting the loss of Joe Hart, Germany will be praising their own glovesman Manuel Neuer, who put in a touch of a goalkeeping masterclass to keep his sheet clean against the Italians.
* PA Sport
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Most match wins on clay
Guillermo Vilas - 659
Manuel Orantes - 501
Thomas Muster - 422
Rafael Nadal - 399 *
Jose Higueras - 378
Eddie Dibbs - 370
Ilie Nastase - 338
Carlos Moya - 337
Ivan Lendl - 329
Andres Gomez - 322
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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)
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
