Saudi Arabia manager Juan Antonio Pizzi says the “Super Clasico” tournament has been invaluable to his side’s 2019 Asian Cup preparations despite their inability to register a victory in two matches.
The three-time continental champions participated in a four-team friendly event in the Kingdom this past week, losing 2-0 to Brazil in Riyadh on Friday before salvaging a last-gasp 1-1 draw against Iraq on Monday.
Iraq were given the lead by Muhammad Ali midway through the second half at the King Saud University Stadium, meaning the Saudis had to then rely on Abdulaziz Al Bishi scoring deep into injury-time with almost the last kick of the game to avoid defeat.
The high-profile tournament, which also featured Argentina, was designed in part to help Saudi Arabia get ready for the upcoming Asian Cup, which takes place in the UAE from January.
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Read more:
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The 2018 World Cup participants face Qatar, Lebanon and North Korea in Group E and open their campaign against the latter in Al Ain on January 8.
The “Super Clasico” is deemed to have provided an important step on the road to the Emirates. Even in defeat to Brazil, Pizzi’s men played well, while against Iraq the Argentine could give game-time to a large portion of his squad. He made six substitutions in the second half.
"I'm not looking for excuses,” Pizzi said afterwards. “We've made a lot of use of the ‘Super Clasico’, and we understand the mistakes we made before the next Asian Cup.
"The Saudi and Iraqi teams have had two good games in the tournament. We have given the opportunity to a number of players to test their readiness. I am a serious man in my work and I am precise: these qualities will give me the opportunity to work well before the tournament in January.”
Abdulfattah Adam, the emerging Saudi striker who began the encounter up front, said the draw was “not satisfactory for the players”, but added: "We have given excellent levels in the second half of the game, and I hope there will be more progress in future."
The tournament in Saudi Arabia proved worthwhile for Iraq also. The 2007 Asian champions are rebuilding with Srecko Katanec, the former UAE manager, who was appointed only in September. A makeshift side lost 4-0 to Argentina last week, but offered a much-improved performance against the hosts on Monday.
"The draw with Saudi Arabia is a win,” Katanec said. “We played against a team that took part in the last World Cup in Russia, and they made a good match against Brazil.
"We are in the process of preparing for the future. Our goal is to build a team capable of competing in tournaments - at the moment we are preparing the team to participate in the next Asian Cup."
Iraq have been drawn in Group D at the Asian Cup alongside Iran, Vietnam and Yemen.
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Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
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Install an air filter in your home.
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SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Fixtures
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Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
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"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
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Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Chatham House Rule
A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding, was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
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revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
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Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
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The five pillars of Islam