GROUP A
Argentina (Fifa ranking: 10)
The hosts are in the easiest group and have the most talented squad on paper. Deserved favourites but they will not forget the last two tournaments when they steamrollered their way to the final, only to be beaten by Brazil on both occasions.
Player to watch
Lionel Messi aside, the man who could be the next big thing is Palermo's Javier Pastore. Though he may start on the bench, he is the nearest thing Argentina have to a traditional playmaker.
Bolivia (93)
Capable of an upset, especially in the altitude of La Paz, as shown by the 6-1 win over Argentina in 2010 World Cup qualifying. Their main focus will be a victory over Costa Rica and trying to take something from the group's big two.
Player to watch
Marcelo Martins is on the books of Shakhtar Donetsk but has spent time on loan at Werder Bremen and Wigan Athletic. The striker starred in the famous 6-1 win.
Colombia (54)
Have spent the last 10 years or more failing to live up to the great team of Carlos Valderamma and Faustino Asprilla. Strong defence and the weakest group should see them make the quarter-finals with plenty to spare.
Player to watch
Falcao, the Porto striker, is rumoured to be following coach Andre Villas-Boas to Chelsea. Scored 39 goals in 42 games this season and is especially strong in the air.
Costa Rica (55)
Recipients of an invite to this year's competition, the Central Americans are reeling from the recent death of key defender Dennis Marshall in a car crash. Reached the quarter-finals in their last two Copas, but this squad is essentially an Under 23 side.
Player to watch
Joel Campbell. The lanky striker is just 19 and will carry his teams hopes.
GROUP B
Brazil (5)
Lacking the household names of the past, this is a Brazil team in transition. However, with attacking full-backs like Dani Alves and Maicon, a plethora of defensive midfielders and flair players like Neymar and Robinho, they are still a strong proposition.
Player to watch
Ganso has just helped Santos win the Copa Libertadores. A playmaker, but not in the Kaka mould. Ganso plays more like Argentina's Juan Roman Riquelme. A move to Milan has been mooted.
Ecuador (68)
Reached consecutive World Cups in 2002 and 2006, but have not made the Copa America quarter-finals since 1997. Much of their hopes will rely on the former England Premier League strike pair of Felipe Caciedo and Christian Benitez.
Player to watch.
Antonio Valencia will aim to put a torrid Champions League final for Manchester United behind him. The winger might be fresher than most, having returned from a lay-off in February.
Paraguay (32)
Fresh off the back off their best World Cup, topping a group including Italy and reaching the quarter-finals. They will be solid at the back, hard to beat, but not so pretty on the eyes.
Player to watch
Lucas Barrios comes into the tournament after winning the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund. Was born in Argentina, and will be keen to impress there.
Venezuela (69)
The baseball-loving nation used to be the whipping boys of South America. Not any more. Almost qualified for the 2010 World Cup and made the quarter-finals in 2007, when they hosted the Copa America. Play an attacking style which means they let in their fair share of goals too.
Player to watch
Juan Arango. Easily the greatest Venezuelan player in history, the left-footed midfielder is captain and nearing 100 caps. Has a penchant for spectacular goals.
GROUP C
Chile (27)
Showed what they are all about at the World Cup. Pretty attacking play, technique and wasted opportunities. They should have won their group in South Africa, but came second on goal difference and thus met Brazil in the second round, who thrashed them.
Player to watch.
The king of this summer's transfer rumour mill has been Alexis Sanchez, the Udinese striker. Can he live up to the hype?
Mexico (9)
If this were Mexico’s senior team, who had been invited to the Copa, they would be fancied to go far. However, the nations best players are taking a break after winning the Concacaf Gold Cup so the Under 23 squad get their chance to impress.
Player to watch
Giovani dos Santos. The former Barcelona man, still on Tottenham Hotspur's books, used to be called the "new Ronaldinho". Now he is seen as all style no product.
Peru (49)
Peru’s ageing forward pair of Paolo Guerrero, Claudio Pizarro, plus Jefferson Farfan, are still their strong point. They can no longer call on the talents of their playmaker Nolberto Solano and will not expect to make the knockout stages.
Player to watch.
Farfan helped Schalke make it to the Champions League semi-finals. His pace can trouble defenders and show why the German side paid €10 million (Dh53 m) for him in 2008.
Uruguay (18)
World Cup semi-finalists, albeit with some help from a Luis Suarez handball, Uruguay are dark horses to win this tournament. They are even stronger than a year ago, evidenced by the rise to prominence of Edinson Cavania, who netted 33 goals for Napoli this season.
Player to watch
Forget the front three of Cavani, Suarez and Diego Forlan – Diego Lugano is as classic defender who loves a tackle and could easily play for a team better than Fenerbahce.
Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The six points:
1. Ministers should be in the field, instead of always at conferences
2. Foreign diplomacy must be left to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation
3. Emiratisation is a top priority that will have a renewed push behind it
4. The UAE's economy must continue to thrive and grow
5. Complaints from the public must be addressed, not avoided
6. Have hope for the future, what is yet to come is bigger and better than before
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
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.”