TEHRAN // As Dominique Bathenay reflected on UAE's dismal campaign in the final round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, the Frenchman believes their fate was sealed after the disastrous start at home The Whites crashed to identical 2-1 defeats against North Korea and Saudi Arabia in their opening two games, leading to the resignation of coach Bruno Metsu.
Bathenay, Metsu's deputy, took over the reins and the could gather just a solitary point after the dismal start, ending their campaign with a 1-0 loss to Iran in Tehran on Wednesday night. "If we had won those two opening games, we would have had six points," said Bathenay after his last game at the helm with UAE. "Our morale would have been high and we would have been battling for qualification. "But after losing those two games, we went to South Korea, which is never an easy place to travel. We lost and did not have a single point from three games and after that it was very difficult."
After the 4-1 defeat to South Korea, they returned home to play one of their best matches of the campaign, but unfortunately could not get the three points. Karim Bagheri struck the equaliser for Iran nine minutes from time after Abdulraheem Jumaa had put the hosts ahead in the 19th minutes. Losing by just a solitary goal to Iran on Wednesday, despite missing the likes of Ismail Matar, Faisal Khalil, Abdulraheem Jumaa, Ismail al Hammadi, Haidar Alo Ali and Hilal Saeed, was a fair achievement for the UAE.
"I think the players can take a lot of confidence and positives from the game they played here," said Bathenay. "All the players gave their maximum. We had two or three opportunities to score, but were unsuccessful. We tried our best, but when you have players of the quality of Matar, Faisal, Abdulraheem, Haidar, al Hammadi and Hilal missing, it is really difficult. "So the result was expected as Iran are a much better side. Still, I believe the team did well and need to be congratulated."
Iran needed to win the game to keep their slim hopes of qualifying alive, and Ali Karimi struck the winner in the 53rd minute, dribbling past three UAE defenders. Iran are still fourth, but just a point behind Saudi Arabia and North Korea who clash in Riyadh next week. South Korea, who have already qualified, top the group with 15 points and Iran need to beat the Taegeuk Warriors in Seoul next Wednesday to upstage the Saudis or the North Koreans.
Afshin Ghotbi, the Iranian head coach, was in bullish mood after the victory. "If there is anyone that can beat South Korea in Seoul, that person is Afshin Ghotbi. I have spent many years in South Korea and I know them well. So I can promise you that you will see us in South Africa." Ghotbi was one of Guus Hiddink's assistants when the Dutchman took the South Koreans to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup at home, and the Iranian-American dispelled notions that the Koreans could take the game lightly since they have already qualified.
"I know South Korea well and I know their players, we were in a World Cup together," he said. "I don't think they will lack in motivation because they have already qualified. Every team in the world has motivation, just like the UAE showed in this game." arizvi@thenational.ae
On racial profiling at airports
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPECS
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Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Fixtures - Open Men 2pm: India v New Zealand, Malaysia v UAE, Singapore v South Africa, Sri Lanka v England; 8pm: Australia v Singapore, India v Sri Lanka, England v Malaysia, New Zealand v South Africa
Fixtures - Open Women Noon: New Zealand v England, UAE v Australia; 6pm: England v South Africa, New Zealand v Australia
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
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