Blaise Matuidi is lucky to be able to play in France's World Cup quarter-final against Germany, but his presence on the field at the Maracana on Friday will be vital for Les Bleus.
The 27-year-old was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card in Monday's last-16 win against Nigeria when a crunching tackle on Ogenyi Onazi left his opponent with a nasty ankle injury.
Matuidi went into the Nigeria dressing room after France's 2-0 win in Brasilia to apologise for the challenge.
Indeed, it was decidedly uncharacteristic of a player who is less known for his aggression than for his tireless running in midfield and who is now as indispensable for his country as he is for Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
He will win his 28th cap for France as they look to get the better of a German side who are among the favourites to lift the trophy and finally earn revenge for painful defeats suffered by Les Bleus in the World Cup semi-finals of 1982 and 1986.
Matuidi, who scored in the 5-2 group-stage win against Switzerland in Salvador, forms a classy midfield trident with Yohan Cabaye and Paul Pogba, a trio that offers passing ability, energy and pace along with a goalscoring threat.
Germany's midfield has dominated games so far, with Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm among the leading players in the competition for passes completed, but they have yet to face opposition of the quality of France.
Matuidi has made more passes than any of his colleagues, and covers more distance too, his stamina showing no sign of letting-up as he prepares to play in a 66th game for club and country since the start of the season.
"Germany are the favourites because of their past record. But anything can happen in one match," warns Matuidi, who recalled featuring in the France team that lost 2-1 to Joachim Loew's side in a friendly in Paris last year.
"(Mesut) Ozil was their playmaker and we played in a 4-4-2. He slipped in between the lines and gave us all sorts of problems. But we have improved since then and this will be a different match."
Matuidi, who grew up supporting PSG and eventually joined the capital side from Saint-Etienne in 2011, has cited Jay-Jay Okocha as his boyhood hero and Claude Makelele as his role-model.
But while one was an outrageously talented playmaker and the other became known as the prototype holding midfielder of the last decade, Matuidi is the perfect example of the modern-day box-to-box player.
"My role is to break in behind the first line of defence. We always say, when you get the ball, you need to quickly drive forward. I try to make as many good runs as possible in order to get into interesting positions. That makes me more decisive," he told France's sports daily L'Equipe.
He has added goals to his game at PSG, becoming a fixture in the side that has won the last two Ligue 1 titles, and he was rewarded earlier this year with a new contract running through to 2018.
News of that deal came as a disappointment to his many suitors across Europe, but Matuidi has always kept his feet on the ground and never forgets where he came from.
"My mother and father come from Angola. They left the country due to the war there and spent some time in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) before trying their luck in Europe," he says.
He adds that he is very proud of his Angolan origins, but that "deep down, I always wanted to play for France."
"Playing at this World Cup is already a dream come true," he says, and Matuidi can cement his place in French footballing folklore by helping Les Bleus make it to the semi-finals, where the hosts Brazil could await.
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Squad
Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas)
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
%3Cp%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Abdullah%20Al%20Qahtani%20v%20Taha%20Bendaoud%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Ali%20Taleb%20v%20Nawras%20Abzakh%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Xavier%20Alaoui%20v%20Rachid%20El%20Hazoume%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Islam%20Reda%20v%20Adam%20Meskini%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Tariq%20Ismail%20v%20Jalal%20Al%20Daaja%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Elias%20Boudegzdame%20v%20Hassan%20Mandour%0D%3Cbr%3EAmateur%20Female%20Atomweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Hattan%20Al%20Saif%20v%20Nada%20Faheem%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Maraoune%20Bellagouit%20v%20Motaz%20Askar%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Ahmed%20Tarek%20v%20Abdelrahman%20Alhyasat%0D%3Cbr%3EShowcase%20Featherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Mido%20Mohamed%20v%20Yazeed%20Hasanain%0D%3Cbr%3EShowcase%20Flyweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Malik%20Basahel%20v%20Harsh%20Pandya%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
