Euro 2020 began in horribly harrowing fashion for Denmark but it is turning into a tournament they can remember for the right reasons. They are its first quarter-finalists while Wales, instead of repeating 2016’s journey to the last four, conceded four. Five years on, Denmark look the endearing overachievers.
Only the Netherlands or the Czech Republic stand between them and a first semi-final since 1992. Their inspired progress is amounting to a wonderful tribute to their sidelined team-mate Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Finland.
Denmark’s tournament is becoming an example of how to produce an exemplary response to adversity. Their greatest misfortune was losing Eriksen but Yussuf Poulsen had helped compensate with goals against Belgium and Russia.
Then he was ruled out with a hamstring problem. So enter Kasper Dolberg, who promptly scored twice to cap a brilliant performance.
The relentless Joakim Maehle won his duel with Gareth Bale and garnished his display with the third goal and the all-action Martin Braithwaite added a fourth.
Meanwhile, Mikkel Damsgaard offered further evidence of his rich promise as he again looked one of the tournament’s breakout stars, Thomas Delaney was dominant in midfield, Simon Kjaer defended defiantly and Kasper Hjulmand changed the game after Wales made the better start.
Dolberg could enjoy a return to his former home ground. He may not have hit the heights his Ajax career promised but the Nice forward delivered a lovely first goal, curling a 20-yard shot in after Damsgaard found him.
He almost doubled his tally with a near-post flick from Damsgaard’s cross, with Danny Ward saving. Instead, the inadvertent assist for his second came from the Wales substitute Neco Williams, who met Braithwaite’s cross with an awful clearance to Dolberg. He slotted in a shot and Wales’ complaints about a foul on Kieffer Moore in the build-up were in vain.
The majority found plenty to cheer. With many Danes able to travel to Amsterdam and Ajax one of Eriksen’s old clubs, this almost amounted to an away game for Wales. They had produced an outstanding display in similar circumstances against Turkey in Baku but not this time.
Bale made a fine first impression, presenting the Denmark captain Kjaer with a Wales shirt with Eriksen’s name and number on it and the message ‘get well soon’ in Welsh.
Initially, his team-mates struggled to cope without Poulsen and the influential wing-back Daniel Wass. The first 15 minutes promised much for Wales. Bale sent a swerving shot just wide. Aaron Ramsey looked shot-happy and elusive.
But then Hjulmand, who has earned praise for his empathetic leadership in difficult circumstances, offered an illustration of his tactical prowess. He shifted Andreas Christensen forward to mark the Juventus midfielder and Ramsey was quieter thereafter.
Denmark played with dynamism and determination. Wales were outclassed. A passive Robert Page delayed bringing on David Brooks and could not conjure a change as influential as Hjulmand’s reshuffle. Kasper Schmeichel did not have a save of note to make while Denmark continued to threaten.
First the substitute Mathias Jensen flicked the post with a cross and then Braithwaite hit the post and Joachim Andersen almost struck. Then came two late goals, Maehle lifting a shot into the roof of the net and Braithwaite scoring in added time.
Wales were ragged by then and their game ended in ignominy with the substitute Harry Wilson sent off for a hack at Maehle. It may have been harsh but it capped their heaviest ever defeat in a European Championship match.
Wales had lost Connor Roberts to a groin strain earlier and, when Williams erred for the second goal, Page may have wished he had replaced him with the veteran Chris Gunter instead. Wales’ tournament peaked against Turkey. Bale and Ramsey have led them to their greatest moments since the 1950s but perhaps this was their final outing on a major international stage. Wales must hope not.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)
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
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
General%20Classification
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CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
Kill%20
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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The%20specs
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
MATCH INFO
Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)
Charles 57, Amla 47
Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)
Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9
Bangla Tiger win by five wickets
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
