Between them, they have won seven World Cups and produced arguably the two greatest players of all time. Brazil and Argentina, the South American neighbours who bear a grudge, go head to head in a friendly tonight in the unlikely setting of Doha.
The rivalry is long-standing and intense, with a history of epic clashes between these South America powerhouses. Two of the best came at the highest level in the World Cup finals.
Despite being outplayed, Argentina knocked Brazil out of the 1990 World Cup with a single goal following a moment of genius from the half-fit Diego Maradona.
That came eight years after a Brazilian attacking masterclass featuring Zico, Socrates and Falcao swept the world champions Argentina aside 3-1 in Spain.
The rivalry goes beyond football. So long the region's economic power, Argentina has been eclipsed by a booming Brazil, where Brazilians tells jokes at the expense of Argentines.
"Why don't Argentines marry?" they ask. "Because they'll never find a woman who loves them as much they love themselves."
But football is where the rivalry is most tangible. Brazil boast five World Cups to Argentina's two, but under new coaches, both sides are keen to look forward and not back as they hope to establish winning systems to take them forward before next July's Copa America in Argentina.
The two giants, who were both beaten in the World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa, quickly appointed replacement coaches after disappointing tournaments. Mano Menezes succeeding Dunga for Brazil, Sergio Batista taking over from Maradona for Argentina.
Brazil will host the next World Cup in 2014 and Menezes, the 48-year-old former coach of Gremio and Corinthians, is keen to impose his style on the national team.
Menezes wants to stay in charge for the World Cup, but with big names such as Luiz Felipe Scolari declaring that they would like to lead Brazil on home soil in the next World Cup, anything but a continued winning run will leave Menezes exposed in the hottest of managerial seats.
Menezes claims that every coach needs time, saying: "Spain got to where they are now after a long period of stability and improvement. They won Euro 2008 and then the World Cup. I need time before Brazil have the basis of a great side."
With three wins from his three games in charge so far, Menezes has recalled Ronaldinho, whom Dunga left out.
Ronaldinho has not even been a regular for his club, AC Milan, but Menezes has faith that the two-time World Player of the Year can resurrect his international career, 18 months after his last Brazilian performance.
Menezes's squad includes home-based emerging stars such as Neymar, who is back in contention after an absence due to disciplinary reasons.
He has also included several players who have been playing well in Europe, such as Liverpool's Lucas Leiva. The holding midfielder has seen more action in the English top-flight since the departure of Javier Mascherano, the Argentine, to Barcelona.
Alex and Ramires, the Chelsea pair, have also been called up, although Alex was last night witdrawn as he faces eight weeks out with a knee injury. Rafael Da Silva, Manchester United's 20-year-old right-back, and Alexandre Pato, Ronaldinho's Milan teammate, will be absent, while Kaka remains sidelined along with Maicon.
Despite the absences, Brazil's squad is stocked with quality and, while the game may be a friendly on paper, no such thing exists when Brazil meet Argentina.
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MATCH INFO
Kolkata Knight Riders 245/6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 214/8 (20 ovs)
Kolkata won by 31 runs
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
more from Janine di Giovanni
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
EGYPT SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ahmed El Shennawy, Mohamed El Shennawy, Mohamed Abou-Gabal, Mahmoud Abdel Rehem "Genesh"
Defenders: Ahmed Elmohamady, Ahmed Hegazi, Omar Gaber, Ali Gazal, Ayman Ahsraf, Mahmoud Hamdy, Baher Elmohamady, Ahmed Ayman Mansour, Mahmoud Alaa, Ahmed Abou-Elfotouh
Midfielders: Walid Soliman, Abdallah El Said, Mohamed Elneny, Tarek Hamed, Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan, Amr Warda, Nabil Emad
Forwards: Ahmed Ali, Mohamed Salah, Marwan Mohsen, Ahmed "Kouka" Hassan.
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
The specs: 2019 GMC Yukon Denali
Price, base: Dh306,500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 621Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.9L / 100km
