France’s reputation for fine wine is well known. The whiff of sour grapes may have come from Belgium after a World Cup semi-final defeat. “It’s just an anti-football team,” said Thibaut Courtois. “I prefer to lose with Belgium than win with France,” sniffed Eden Hazard. “We play most beautifully.”
Their sentiments may brook dissent, and not merely in Paris, given the way Kylian Mbappe has captured imaginations, but Belgium’s disappointment was understandable. They were only beaten by a set-piece – which some would say is the sort of fate that can befall Roberto Martinez’s teams – when victory would have rendered them favourites in the final.
A chance of this magnitude is unlikely to come around again. Certainly not for Vincent Kompany, who was musing last year about international retirement after the World Cup, and probably not for others in the older half of the team. And not, as a result, for the younger brigade, even if Hazard, Courtois, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne could be at or near their respective peaks in Qatar in 2022.
It is natural to think of what might have been, to wonder if a country of just 11 million people could conquer the footballing world. Ever a man to bring division, Jose Mourinho accused some of Belgium’s players of “hiding”. He excused Hazard; presumably he was not blaming his Manchester United charges, Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini, either. Yet that felt overly harsh. Had Belgium gone missing, Hugo Lloris would not have been required to make some excellent saves or Raphael Varane to produce a defensive masterclass.
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Read more:
2018 World Cup semi-final updates: buildup to Croatia v England
Roberto Martinez says Belgium must 'regroup' for one final game to try and clinch World Cup bronze
Analysis: Imperious France have all the tools to deliver a second World Cup trophy
Report: France reach World Cup final as Samuel Umtiti's goal sinks Belgium
2018 World Cup as it happened: France beat Belgium
_______________
So this should not be a time for regret and recrimination. Belgium travelled further than most thought likely when they found themselves in the tougher half of the draw. Their comeback against Japan ranks as the most extraordinary in the tournament’s first 61 games, Nacer Chadli’s injury-time winner was both its most joyous and cruel moment. In a World Cup lacking a signature tactic, the boldest, most brilliant strategy came when Martinez ripped up his blueprint against Brazil, installed De Bruyne as a false nine, played Lukaku on the right and confounded the favourites.
If nothing else, it ought to disprove the blinkered notion that Martinez is some kind of a fraud. He has never lacked the courage to take decisions; some proved masterstrokes on the biggest stage of all. He proved a distinct improvement on Marc Wilmots, who was out of his depth in successive quarter-final exits. As Hazard said, Belgium entertained.
Doubters have been answered. Hazard was upstaged by Mbappe in the second half in Saint Petersburg, but his first-half efforts, like his brilliant display against Brazil, exposed the flaws in the argument that he does not perform in the major matches. Lukaku is the supposed flat-track bully who, without scoring, bullied Brazil. Fellaini remained as ungainly and inelegant as ever but exerted a major, positive influence in two World Cup knockout games. Yannick Carrasco and Mousa Dembele had underwhelming tournaments, but few of their colleagues did.
The prosaic truth may be twofold: that Belgium lost to a France side which, in Mbappe, has a man auditioning for the title of the world’s best player and which has greater strength in depth. The fact remains they lined up for a World Cup semi-final with Nacer Chadli, an attacking midfielder who got two Premier League starts at relegated West Bromwich Albion last season, at right-back. He was no weak link but Thomas Meunier’s suspension nevertheless showed the gulf in resources between the neighbours.
Belgium may regard themselves as morally superior to France. On the football pitch, however, they were slightly inferior.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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What%20is%20Dungeons%20%26%20Dragons%3F%20
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Khaldoon%20Bushnaq%20and%20Tariq%20Seksek%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Global%20Market%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20100%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20to%20date%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2415%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Results
2.30pm: Expo 2020 Dubai – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Barakka, Ray Dawson (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
3.05pm: Now Or Never – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: One Idea, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
3.40pm: This Is Our Time – Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Perfect Balance, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Visit Expo 2020 – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Kaheall, Richard Mullen, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.50pm: The World In One Place – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1.900m; Winner: Castlebar, Adrie de Vries, Helal Al Alawi
5.25pm: Vision – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
6pm: Al Wasl Plaza – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Jadwal, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule
12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)
2pm Formula One final practice
5pm Formula One qualifying
6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
BAD%20BOYS%3A%20RIDE%20OR%20DIE
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