Jordan's Mohammad Abualnadi challenges Amjed Attwan of Iraq during the World Cup qualifier at the Basra International Stadium on November 14, 2024. AP
Jordan's Mohammad Abualnadi challenges Amjed Attwan of Iraq during the World Cup qualifier at the Basra International Stadium on November 14, 2024. AP
Jordan's Mohammad Abualnadi challenges Amjed Attwan of Iraq during the World Cup qualifier at the Basra International Stadium on November 14, 2024. AP
Jordan's Mohammad Abualnadi challenges Amjed Attwan of Iraq during the World Cup qualifier at the Basra International Stadium on November 14, 2024. AP

AFC World Cup qualifiers: Honours even between Iraq and Jordan, as Renard makes point in Saudi return


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It was honours even between Iraq and Jordan after they were forced to settle for a goalless draw in their World Cup Group B qualifier on Thursday.

The stalemate left things unchanged for Jordan and Iraq in Group B as they stayed in second and third, respectively, both on eight points – five points behind leaders South Korea – and still very much in the hunt for a place for the finals in 2026.

In front of a bumper crowd at Basra International Stadium, Jordan dominated proceedings in the first half with Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil pulling of a series of saves that ensured the game remained goalless at the break.

But it was Iraq that nearly broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart when Aymen Hussein's header from Hussein Ali’s cross was saved by Jordan keeper Yazeed Abulaila.

Despite Iraq's pressure for much of the second period, it was Basil who was the busier of the two keepers as full-time approached, saving efforts from substitute Mahmoud Al Mardi and Mohannad Abu Taha to ensure a share of the points.

Iraq will now go up against Oman in Muscat on Tuesday while another away game awaits Jordan in Ardhiyah against Kuwait.

Son scores 50th goal for South Korea

Son Heung-min scored a landmark 50th goal for his country to put South Korea a step closer to the World Cup as Australia and Saudi Arabia cancelled each other out.

Spurs and South Korean captain Son missed last month's qualifiers with injury but celebrated his return with a first-half penalty in a 3-1 win at Kuwait.

Victory left South Korea comfortably top of Group B with four wins and a draw after five matches and on course for the finals in North America.

The top two teams in each of the three Asian qualifying groups will reach the showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

With this phase of qualifying approaching a halfway point, South Korea took a 10th-minute lead in Kuwait when striker Oh Se-hun rose highest to powerfully head home.

Nine minutes later it was 2-0 to the visitors after Son – playing in his 130th game for South Korea – won the penalty and then picked himself up to bury it with minimum fuss.

Mohammad Daham struck on the hour to halve the deficit with a delicious half-volley.

But substitute Bae Jun-ho, who had replaced Son, made the game safe for South Korea with their third 14 minutes later when he refiled in at the near post.

Renard settles for draw in first game back

Saudi Arabia had a goal disallowed in added time in a 0-0 draw against Australia in Melbourne that did neither side any favours in their bid to qualify.

In his first game back in charge following the exit of Roberto Mancini, Herve Renard thought his visitors had snatched a late winner when Sultan Al Ghannam fired home from just inside the box in the 93rd minute. But the flag went up with one of his teammates offside.

Mancini left his role as Saudi Arabia manager after 14 months having managed just seven wins in 18 matches despite signing a four-year deal in August 2023.

“We had some good opportunities but we have to go give our opponent credit. First half we didn't play very well,” said Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.

“We were not very good with the ball while they were sharp and energetic. We improved significantly in the second half, which is good.”

It left Australia and Saudi Arabia level on six points in their scrap for second place in the group. China joined them with the same number of points after scoring in the 91st-minute for a crucial 1-0 win at Bahrain.

Zhang Yuning prodded home just minutes after Bahrain had what they thought was a winner of their own ruled out by VAR for offside.

Herve Renard is back in charge of Saudi Arabia after replacing Roberto Mancini. AFP
Herve Renard is back in charge of Saudi Arabia after replacing Roberto Mancini. AFP
PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

The BIO

Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.

Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.

Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.

Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

RACE CARD

4.30pm: Maiden Dh80,000 1,400m
5pm: Conditions Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Liwa Oasis Group 3 Dh300,000 1,400m
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Group 2 Dh300,000 2,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (30-60) Dh80,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Handicap (40-70) Dh80,000 1,600m.

Company%20profile%20
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The specs

Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: nine-speed

Power: 542bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: Dh848,000

On sale: now

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayao%20Miyazaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Soma%20Santoki%2C%20Masaki%20Suda%2C%20Ko%20Shibasaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
CREW
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERajesh%20A%20Krishnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETabu%2C%20Kareena%20Kapoor%20Khan%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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500 People from Gaza enter France

115 Special programme for artists

25   Evacuation of injured and sick

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The story in numbers

18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WISH
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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Updated: November 14, 2024, 8:57 PM`