Recovering from a 60-year low is not an easy task. Nor is it accomplished immediately. For the first time since 1958, Italy have not qualified for a World Cup. Life in limbo and after the disastrous manager Gian Piero Ventura began at the Etihad Stadium on Friday. They lost 2-0.
There are mitigating factors. They were facing Argentina, albeit an Argentina shorn of the injured Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero and the omitted Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi. They selected a squad spliced together from different generations with Gianluigi Buffon, who went on to win his 176th cap, having played more internationals than 20 of his colleagues had between them.
“This team includes many who were on their debuts, others in their third or fourth caps,” said caretaker manager Luigi di Biagio. “It’s the start of a new era.”
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Read more:
John McAuley in Zurich: Ronaldo loves lording it over a rival - like he did over Salah
Argentina boast luxury of attacking riches but remains 'Messi's team', insists Sampaoli
Spain face Germany and Italy in litmus test of World Cup credentials
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Except it feels less an era than an interregnum, possibly before the return of the king across the water: Antonio Conte, named as the Italian FA’s preferred choice by the man leading their search, Alessandro Costacurta.
Di Biagio’s team were not embarrassed. Nor, however, did they offer the impression a brave new world has begun. Most of the inexperienced players were confined to cameos with Federico Chiesa the only debutant to start. The 40-year-old Buffon displayed his brilliance in a string of saves but the teenager Gianluigi Donnarumma was an unused substitute.
At the other end of the pitch, Italy failed to score for a third successive game. They have only two goals in six matches.
“I think we caused Argentina a lot of problems," said Lorenzo Insigne, who spurned the best chance by hitting the stanchion when it seemed simpler to score.
That drought has brought questions about the continued omission of Mario Balotelli, with Di Biagio appearing to show a caretaker’s reluctance to make major decisions by recalling a player who has not featured since the 2014 World Cup. But Balotelli averages almost a goal every other game for his country and has struck 22 times for Nice this season.
“We have important players already now and we have [Ciro] Immobile who is fighting for the European Golden Boot,” said Marco Parolo, praising his prolific Lazio teammate when asked about Balotelli.
In his own way, the midfielder is part of another problem: he was a worthy overachiever in Euro 2016 but will be 35 by the time Euro 2020 begins. Quite what he was doing beginning a friendly when Di Biagio could have imported more of his successful and gifted Under-21 team is a moot point: it suggested the interim appointment was intimidated by the prospect of a thrashing by Argentina.
So Lorenzo Pellegrini, 12 years Parolo’s junior, was his eventual replacement; at least, whereas Ventura had the kamikaze tactic of playing 4-2-4 against Spain, Di Biagio showed the sense to use three central midfielders.
There were also a couple of encouraging choices. Daniele Rugani, who made a goal-line clearance after another Buffon stop, looked a potential long-term partner for Leonardo Bonucci in the centre of defence.
And after Ventura turned both into cause celebres by overlooking them, Jorginho and Insigne started. While they lost possession for the two goals, club colleagues combined for many of Italy’s more promising moves and they offer the potential of more progressive play in the future and the chance Italy could start to mirror Serie A’s most exciting side.
Di Biagio was a former Roma and Inter footballer and Conte both played for and managed Juventus but there could be a Napolification of Italy.
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
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UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
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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)
Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
Sting & Shaggy
44/876
(Interscope)
