Karim Benzema paid tribute to Al Ittihad’s fans following his history-making goal in the Fifa Club World Cup opener on Tuesday, saying his team will “fight” to go as far as they can in the competition.
The Ittihad captain, a five-time winner of the tournament with Real Madrid, scored the third goal in the hosts’ 3-0 victory against Auckland City in Jeddah as the Club World Cup took place in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
In netting, Benzema became the first player to score in four editions of the competition. After Romarinho sent Ittihad on their way at a sell-out King Abdullah Sports City, and former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante soon doubled the home side’s lead, Benzema then completed the scoring four minutes before half time.
The Frenchman, signed in June, finished off a lovely, sweeping move to book Ittihad's spot in the second round on Friday against African champions Al Ahly.
Asked afterwards about entering the record books yet again, Benzema said: “I’m happy, but the most important was the victory. I was happy because it is very important for us to play well in front of the fans.
"The atmosphere was very nice, so we’re happy, and I’m happy to score. But the most important was to win.”
The build-up to the game had been all about Ittihad’s place in a home Club World Cup as Saudi’s representatives in the kingdom’s debut staging of the tournament. The Jeddah side qualified for the event by winning last season's Saudi Pro League.
However, defeat on Tuesday night to Oceania champions Auckland, record 11-time participants from New Zealand, would have meant Ittihad could not progress, leaving them with only fifth place to play for in the seven-team tournament.
But Benzema said: “No pressure. Because, in football, the pressure is there already. So it’s not to put more pressure, because we have it already. It’s just go out, look at the fans, and you are ready.”
On how much belief Ittihad will take from the result going into the match against Egypt’s Ahly – the winner will meet Brazil’s Fluminense in the semi-final next week – Benzema said: “We are confident.
“We play in front of our fans, so we are ready. Game by game, for us it’s a final, so let’s fight and let’s see what happens.”
Benzema, who lifted the Club World Cup with Madrid in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and again last year, said it would be special to repeat the feat with his current side.
“It makes history,” he said. “So it’s important for me, but for us for the country, for the city, for everybody.”
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- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
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- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
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- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
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Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
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Price, base / as tested Dh525,000 / Dh559,000
Engine: 3.0L V6 biturbo
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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