On an autumn night at Old Trafford eight years ago, Manchester United found themselves nervously facing a tricky League Cup tie against opposition from England’s North East. Middlesbrough, of the second-tier Championship, proved plucky and held out for a 0-0 draw after extra time.
The penalty shoot-out then went badly for the home side, three of United’s senior England internationals failing with their spot-kicks. United’s goalkeeper that night, Argentina’s No 1 at the time, Sergio Romero, saw three Boro penalties zip past him.
Can that be the same “Chiquito” Romero, as he is known in his native land, who this weekend goes to the Copa Libertadores final at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium with a good chance of being named the competition’s most valuable player in large part because of his eerily successful record stopping penalties? It is.
Thanks to Romero’s excellence, Boca Juniors have reached their 12th final of the Libertadores – South America’s equivalent of the Champions League – where they meet Brazil’s Fluminense, with the victor booking a ticket to next month's Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Romero’s agility and anticipation in tie-breakers has been remarkable, a charmed solution each time Boca fail to break a knockout-round deadlock. They have needed him, given their habit of grinding out 0-0 draws in first legs.
Against Nacional of Uruguay at the last-16 stage, Romero kept out two spot-kicks after the sides shared four goals in open play in the second leg. Against compatriots Racing, Romero saved another pair of penalties in the quarter-final shoot-out. Come the semi-final’s decisive away leg at Brazil’s Palmeiras, it was déjà-vu: two spot-kicks saved by Romero to put Boca within reach of the club’s seventh Libertadores title, their first since 2007.
There’s evidence the Romero knack with penalties has become an aura. Boca’s progress in the domestic Cup, the Copa Argentina, has lately featured more shoot-out saves from the much-travelled gloveman and, in the last round, he watched a pair of penalty-takers from Talleres overawed and miss the target entirely. Romero’s record is intimidating: Since joining Boca from Italy’s Venezia last year, he has faced 26 penalties. Only 12 have been converted.
Proof then that, between the posts more than in any other role, age is no impediment to improvement. Romero is 36, but he’ll be much the younger of the keepers involved in a final that leans heavily on its veterans. In goal for Fluminense will be 43-year-old Fabio, who, like Romero, finds himself on the cusp of the most significant medal of a long club career in middle age.
Romero, who earned 96 caps for Argentina up until stepping away from national duty in 2018, previously peaked in terms of trophies with the 2017 Europa League. That was a rare night in the starting XI at United, where he spent six seasons understudying David de Gea.
Perhaps he would have added a second Europa League had he been able to play in the 2021 final, where, in the deciding shoot-out, De Gea made no saves and missed the last spot-kick of an elongated penalty duel, won 11-10 by Villarreal.
The scorer of United’s open-play goal that evening was Edinson Cavani, who will lead the line at the Maracana for Boca and who, like his contemporary Romero, has returned to South America after stints in Italy, France and England.
But for suspension, another United ex, defender Marcos Rojo, would be lining up in Boca’s defence. Rojo, 33, remains untamed: he collected the 10th red card of his club career in the semi-final against Palmeiras.
Equally untamed is Marcelo, the former Real Madrid captain, who, after five Champions League titles and 15 Madrid years redefining the position of left-back as a role principally geared to attack, rejoined Fluminense earlier this year.
"Flu" is the club where Marcelo first enrolled as a 13-year-old. He’s now 35, but still an exuberant ally for his head coach Fernando Diniz, whose brand of high-risk, attacking football is burnishing his reputation.
The final is a big test for Diniz. He is currently sharing his club role with the job of interim Brazil coach, on the assumption that Carlo Ancelotti will take up the Brazil position when the Italian’s contract at Real Madrid expires in June.
But the success of Diniz in guiding "Flu" to only their second Libertadores final – they were silver medallists in 2008 – has gained him loud backing to be appointed in charge of the national squad full-time.
Romario, the former Fluminense, Barcelona and World Cup-winning striker and now a senior politician in Brazil, told Globo TV the Ancelotti plan should be ditched and Diniz made permanent national coach.
“He’s the best manager in Brazil,” said Romario. “Forget Ancelotti. I want Diniz there all the way. He’s shown at Flu his ability to bring players together. They deserve to win this final.”
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was first created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQureos%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E33%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESoftware%20and%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,400m. Winner: Al Ajeeb W’Rsan, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Jaci Wickham (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m racing. Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Onward, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Prep Rated Conditions (PA) Dh 125,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: AF Arrab, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 90,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Irish Freedom, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
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
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Tesalam Aleik
Abdullah Al Ruwaished
(Rotana)
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
Squads
Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
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Afcon 2019
SEMI-FINALS
Senegal v Tunisia, 8pm
Algeria v Nigeria, 11pm
Matches are live on BeIN Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
