Raymond Domenech rides through the French Alps resort of Tignes yesterday.
Raymond Domenech rides through the French Alps resort of Tignes yesterday.

Domenech's charges in relaxed mood



TIGNES // A week in the scenic French Alps seems to have done wonders for France, who now have a healthy Williams Gallas and a vastly improved mood in the team. France left their picturesque base yesterday with their 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa finalised and in a relaxed and confident mood after a number of concerns were overcome.

Raymond Domenech, the coach, who has been under fire since his side's disappointing Euro 2008 campaign, organised several strange group activities in search of harmony, such as a hike up a glacier, an introduction to biathlon and even a dune buggy race. The players loved it, even Gallas, who survived a fright when his buggy rolled over, and all the players said they could feel a genuine team spirit blooming.

Domenech, the man France fans love to hate, even cracked a few smiles and did not lose his cool when Lassana Diarra, the Real Madrid midfielder, was ruled out of the World Cup by illness. The coach eventually decided late on Monday that Diarra would not be replaced after seeing Gallas, who had been doubtful because of a sore left calf, train without any problems. Domenech, who had brought 24 players to Tignes because of concerns about Gallas, found himself with 23 after Diarra had to leave and, after the Arsenal defender was ruled fit to play, decided those would travel to South Africa.

"It's complicated to take somebody out and we've had Lassana Diarra who's had a real problem," Domenech said. "Then we found ourselves with 23 players so we no longer needed to make a choice because that group here keep showing us that we can trust them. Those 23 players will take us all the way." Saying France, who needed an infamous Thierry Henry handball to qualify through a play-off at the expense of the Republic of Ireland, will win the World Cup may seem a little premature.

The mood in the ski village, surrounded by rugged snow-capped peaks and almost like a ghost town in the spring, however, has surprised many observers. All the French players have been saying that they were having fun together and were determined to prove their worth on the pitch. Such statements were hardly ever heard before Euro 2008, where a miserable atmosphere and a rift between the younger players in the squad and the more experienced ones marred a campaign that ended with a group-stage exit.

Domenech, who will be replaced by Laurent Blanc after the World Cup, may feel there is no pressure on him, with French fans and media generally feeling the team has no chance to make an impact on the pitches of South Africa. The coach even made a bold move in the penultimate training session in Tignes, fielding a 4-3-3 formation instead of his preferred, more defensive 4-2-3-1 system. The fans watching the session applauded, hoping the cautious tactics that have frustrated them for years might soon make way for a more exciting brand of football.

France play Costa Rica tonight in Lens in the first of three warm-up games for the World Cup, where they will face hosts South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay in Group A. * Reuters France v Costa Rica, 11pm, Aljazeera Sport +3

Brief scoreline:

Al Wahda 2

Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'

Al Nassr 3

Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'

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SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)

Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)

Lazio v Napoli (9pm)

Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)

Sunday

Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)

Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)

Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)

Torino v Bologna (6pm)

Verona v Genoa (9pm)

Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)

Parma v Lecce (11.45pm)

 

 

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint

Greenheart Organic Farms 

This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.

www.greenheartuae.com

Modibodi  

Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.

www.modibodi.ae

The Good Karma Co

From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes. 

www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco

Re:told

One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.

www.shopretold.com

Lush

Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store. 

www.mena.lush.com

Bubble Bro 

Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.

www.bubble-bro.com

Coethical 

This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.

www.instagram.com/coethical

Eggs & Soldiers

This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.

www.eggsnsoldiers.com

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Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists. 

Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.

Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic 

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Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')

Chelsea 0

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day

Founder: Shamim Kassibawi

Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US

Sector: Tech 

Size: 20 employees

Stage of funding: Seed

Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund

Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)

Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)


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