Paulo Bento’s immediate future was questioned. Of course it was.
The UAE manager may have been only six-and-a-bit months into his tenure, but an Asian Cup exit to Tajikistan, however inspired the tournament debutants have been, was damning.
The national team had not convinced through the group phase in Qatar. With one win from three matches, they needed goal difference to pip Palestine to a runner-up spot that sealed a spot in the knockouts.
Then came Sunday’s last-16 defeat to Tajikistan. Again, the UAE struggled, perhaps fortunate not to be long gone before Khalifa Al Hammadi headed an equaliser in stoppage time to give them hope.
But Caio Canedo’s spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out was saved, Tajikistan were in turn flawless, and the UAE’s exit was confirmed. Semi-finalists in the past two Asian Cups – a memorable third in 2015 and among the four best, on home soil, five years ago – the UAE were out way before their pre-tournament target.
In the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s loss, Bento was asked whether he was confident he would remain as manager.
“When you lose usually comes that question,” he deadpanned. “It is normal. My last concern is the confidence … I try to make the best, so the idea is to prepare the next two games for the [2026 World Cup] qualifiers and try to keep our best in the qualifying phase.
“The rest is something that doesn’t concern me at this moment.”
Yet before the focus switches to the March double-header against Yemen, some retrospection is required. The UAE did not play well in Qatar. Bento dropped Ali Mabkhout, the team’s principal name and the country’s all-time leading scorer; first from the starting XI, and then from the squad altogether.
In the fallout from Tajikistan, some have called into question Bento’s team selection and tactics. Why was Harib Abdallah, viewed the emerging star of the national team, not utilised more?
How can Fabio De Lima excel so well with an Al Wasl currently top of the Adnoc Pro League, but fail to really impact the UAE side?
And how can Mabkhout not feature at all, especially when Sultan Adil, the teenager preferred in the opening two Group C matches and whom, to be fair, responded with goals in both, was ruled out through injury.
On the latter, Bento explained – eventually and to some degree at least – that he would select only players fully committed to the cause.
If the UAE had advanced to the quarter-finals, a realistic aim before a ball was kicked in Qatar, then Bento would maybe instead be credited for having the strength of character to omit a player of Mabkhout’s stature.
Since his appointment last July, Portuguese has continually communicated, both publicly and to his team, that all players would be treated equally. Bento emphasised: in the good and the perceived bad.
The former Portugal and South Korea manager, as all coaches are prone to do, could perhaps point to moments that decided the UAE’s early departure from Doha.
Adil, impressive and hugely influential through the first two games, was unavailable for the next fixtures, robbing Bento of that sturdy spearhead. Al Hammadi was sent off in the draw with Palestine – so, too, was Bento – and at the time a point felt admirable.
Against Iran, among the tournament favourites, Yahya Al Ghassani did not convert a penalty to equalise, and moments later, the UAE were 2-0 down. At the Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday, the UAE lost Abdullah Ramadan, their key midfielder and tempo-setter, to injury 15 minutes in.
For sure, they can be interpreted as excuses, particularly when the UAE performed below expectation. However, although predictable, talk of Bento’s dismissal seems premature.
He has overseen six official matches. The UAE remain very much a work in progress. The squad needs significant improvement in areas – and, indeed, that falls upon the manager.
Crucially, Bento should be given time. The UAE began World Cup qualification in November with two victories, the second a gutsy 2-0 victory in Bahrain. Reaching a second global finals in history, remember, represents the overarching objective.
Yes, if the UAE show no real progress through the second round – still, they should ease into the next stage – then questions regarding Bento’s future would be merited.
But a seventh managerial change in four years, and yet another reset? Right now, that appears impetuous.
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Jawbone Press
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Autumn international scores
Saturday, November 24
Italy 3-66 New Zealand
Scotland 14-9 Argentina
England 37-18 Australia
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SERIE A FIXTURES
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Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm)
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)
Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)
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Sugary teas and iced coffees
The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.
For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
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THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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RESULTS
Bantamweight title:
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) bt Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
(KO round 2)
Catchweight 68kg:
Sean Soriano (USA) bt Noad Lahat (ISR)
(TKO round 1)
Middleweight:
Denis Tiuliulin (RUS) bt Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
(TKO round 1)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) bt Joachim Tollefsen (DEN)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 68kg:
Austin Arnett (USA) bt Daniel Vega (MEX)
(TKO round 3)
Lightweight:
Carrington Banks (USA) bt Marcio Andrade (BRA)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 58kg:
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) bt Malin Hermansson (SWE)
(Submission round 2)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (CAN) bt Juares Dea (CMR)
(Split decision)
Middleweight:
Mohamad Osseili (LEB) bt Ivan Slynko (UKR)
(TKO round 1)
Featherweight:
Tarun Grigoryan (ARM) bt Islam Makhamadjanov (UZB)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 54kg:
Mariagiovanna Vai (ITA) bt Daniella Shutov (ISR)
(Submission round 1)
Middleweight:
Joan Arastey (ESP) bt Omran Chaaban (LEB)
(Unanimous decision)
Welterweight:
Bruno Carvalho (POR) bt Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
(TKO)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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