Kevin De Bruyne, imagine, said they had been dulled by age. Reports alleged they were dented by in-fighting.
Whatever the reason, Belgium’s golden generation could not find the silver bullet to their World Cup woes, the game’s second-ranked side bowing out from Qatar at the group stage. Four years ago, they finished third in Russia.
Maybe time had caught up with them. Maybe there was mutiny in the ranks, albeit denied by manager Roberto Martinez – as he would be expected to do. Perhaps Martinez himself wasn’t the right hand to extract the team’s true potential. Immediately after Belgium's World Cup fate was sealed, he announced he would be steeping down. The Ahmad bin Ali Stadium could conceivably be the end of the line for many.
A goalless draw in the Group F decider with Croatia confirmed Belgium to the boot, consigning De Brunye and Romelu Lukaku – on as a second-half substitute, the striker wasted three glorious chances - and Dries Mertens and Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Thibaut Courtois, to an early, ignominious exit.
Croatia, runners-up last time out, are through to the knockouts. Morocco, granting the tournament one of its great storylines, join them - as group winners, no less. Belgium were gone.
Lucky against Canada, lacklustre against Morocco, they needed a win on Thursday to continue. Most likely determined to get off on the right foot, they created little in first half, their clearest chance coming when De Bruyne played in Mertens. But the Galatasaray forward fired well over.
Within two minutes, Croatia thought they had a penalty when Yannick Carrasco felled Andrej Kramaric in the Belgium area. However, as Luka Modric waited what felt an eternity to take the spot-kick, the Video Assistant Referee interjected. Referee Anthony Taylor returned from the pitch-side monitor to overturn the initial decision; apparently there had been an offside in the build-up. Replays showed it was fractions.
When a Mexican wave washed through the crowd shortly before half-time, it pointed to the lack of real action. The biggest cheer - it felt anyway - followed news filtering through of Morocco’s lead against Canada in the group’s other game. And again, when the big screen flashed the standings: Morocco were top, two clear of Croatia. As it stood, Belgium would be packing for home.
Requiring an injection of anything, really, Martinez sent on Lukaku for the second half. It nearly paid instant reward: the Inter Milan got his head to De Bruyne’s deep cross, but could not generate any real power.
At the other end, Mateo Kovacic tested Thibaut Courtois’ reflexes. Earning his 100th cap for Belgium, the giant goalkeeper tipped away for the corner. Soon after, Courtois was saving from Marcelo Brozovic and also from Modric. Croatia were turning the screw.
Yet Belgium were inches away from turning it around. Turning around their campaign. De Bruyne sent through Carrasco and, after goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic blocked, Lukaku thudded the rebound onto the inside of the post. The goal gaping, it appeared easier to score. The Belgium bench leapt in disbelief.
The sensation would soon return. A cross from the left was deflected over Livakovic and onto Lukaku’s head and, standing six yards out and unmarked, he headed over. Then, in the dying moments, he failed to react when the ball dropped to him right on the Croatia goalline.
There would be no final reprieve. Last weekend, in advance of their Morocco defeat, De Bruyne declared Belgium had “no chance” of winning the World Cup. Age, he said, meant their best opportunity had come in Russia. He was proved correct. Belgium, with their supposed golden generation, were bust.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
The five pillars of Islam
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Manchester United v Liverpool
Premier League, kick off 7.30pm (UAE)
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
More on animal trafficking
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Don't get fined
The UAE FTA requires following to be kept:
- Records of all supplies and imports of goods and services
- All tax invoices and tax credit notes
- Alternative documents related to receiving goods or services
- All tax invoices and tax credit notes
- Alternative documents issued
- Records of goods and services that have been disposed of or used for matters not related to business
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3ECreated%20by%3A%20Darren%20Star%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Lily%20Collins%2C%20Philippine%20Leroy-Beaulieu%2C%20Ashley%20Park%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202.75%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Specs:
The Specs:
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 444bhp
Torque: 600Nm
Price: AED 356,580 incl VAT
On sale: now.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
Titan Sports Academy:
Programmes: Judo, wrestling, kick-boxing, muay thai, taekwondo and various summer camps
Location: Inside Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: 971 50 220 0326
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
