France's Paul Pogba, right, celebrates his goal with teammates Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud in their Euro 2016 quarter-final win on Sunday night. Martin Bureau / AFP / July 3, 2016
France's Paul Pogba, right, celebrates his goal with teammates Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud in their Euro 2016 quarter-final win on Sunday night. Martin Bureau / AFP / July 3, 2016

Griezmann, Pogba and France prove power, as magnificent minnows give way



Iceland can welcome a tenth of its population back. The great retreat across much of the Atlantic was prompted by the highest-scoring game of Euro 2016. Were another country on the receiving end of such a result, it would be called a humiliation.

But not this time.

France took a wrecking ball to the side from Reykjavik. Icelanders cracked. Hosts delivered a statement of intent in a tournament that has had too few.

Instead, much of the drama has come from the improbable antics of the unlikely. Iceland have provided the most uplifting tale of Euro 2016. They have earned the admiration of many. They can leave with pride.

More Euro 2016

• In Pictures: Giroud, Pogba and Griezmann fire for France in rout of Iceland

• Real Madrid: 'Any friendship will have to wait' between Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo

They have shown that underdogs can prevail in a sport where favourites’ progress often feels preordained.

They have provided a role model to many another small nation, with an investment in coaching and pitches, with intelligent management, a formidable team spirit and a style that suited their players. They fostered dreams and encouraged dreamers. They lured some 30,000 of their population to France.

Iceland had beaten Netherlands, Turkey and the Czech Republic in qualifying, Austria and England in the tournament itself. They had angered Cristiano Ronaldo by having the temerity to draw with Portugal.

Yet sooner or later, reality was bound to bite. It duly did, cruelly and clinically.

Iceland were eviscerated. France were fantastic. There was a gulf in class, as there ought to be. France's second goal was supplied by Antoine Griezmann, a Champions League finalist this year, and scored by Paul Pogba, who played in the same fixture 12 months earlier. Their combined value approaches £200 million (Dh973m).

Griezmann showed why he is so highly rated. Few attackers have made a compelling case to be called Euro 2016's stand-out player but he is a welcome exception. The Atletico Madrid forward scored one goal, with a dink worthy of Lionel Messi, and created two more. He is now the leader in the Golden Boot race with two of his teammates, along with Wales' Gareth Bale, proving his closest competition.

Dimitri Payet drilled in his third goal of the tournament a minute before Griezmann delivered his fourth.

Olivier Giroud supplied a double, accelerating France’s transition from slow starters to the first team to score four goals in the opening half of a European Championship finals game. Despite his enduring capacity to polarise opinions, the statistics suggest Giroud has an importance. His last nine starts for his country have yielded 10 goals. He was substituted to ensure he did not collect the caution that would have ruled him out of the semi-final against Germany.

Then Pogba towered above Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and headed in Antoine Griezmann’s corner. Payet and Griezmann turned two goals into four in a matter of minutes. Iceland were routed, though their fans were never silenced.

Perhaps the team Ronaldo accused of excessive defensiveness should have been duller. Iceland’s progressive approach surprised England. It backfired against France.

Their defensive line was too high when their offside trap was sprung by Blaise Matuidi for Giroud’s opener. They had scored from a set-piece six days earlier; this time they conceded from one as Pogba headed in Griezmann’s corner.

They became the first team to name the same starting 11 for five consecutive games in the Euros. They looked tired, understandable exhausted by their efforts to date.

They had to make a double change at half-time. It was testament to their character, however, that they maintained their record of scoring in every game. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson stuck out a toe to turn Gylfi Sigurdsson’s cross in. After the nostalgic gesture of sending the 37-year-old Eidur Gudjohnsen on for what may prove a valedictory cameo, Birkir Bjarnason headed in a second.

Such French defending may offer encouragement for Germany, though Laurent Koscielny, another a booking away from a ban, had gone off by then as Didier Deschamps took precautions.

The France manager retained the 4-4-2 formation that worked so well in the second half against the Republic of Ireland, which had the benefit of allowing Griezmann a central role and spared him the task of finding a direct replacement for the suspended defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante. France have been far more prolific in his absence.

Perhaps Deschamps has found his system and his style. Perhaps he will require more conservatism against Germany.

That promises to be a clash of the superpowers. In contrast, Iceland were Euro 2016’s magnificent minnows.

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Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Tips on buying property during a pandemic

Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.

While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.

While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar. 

Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.

Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities. 

Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong. 

Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.

Andor
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Brief scores:

Toss: South Africa, chose to field

Pakistan: 177 & 294

South Africa: 431 & 43-1

Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)

Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 

Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Timeline

1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line

1962
250 GTO is unveiled

1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company

1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens

1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made

1987
F40 launched

1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent

2002
The Enzo model is announced

2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi

2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled

2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives

2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company

2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street

2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary

Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

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The biog

Name: Sari Al Zubaidi

Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati

Age: 42

Marital status: single

Favourite drink: drip coffee V60

Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia 

Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jigra
Director: Vasan Bala
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Rated: 3.5/5
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures

Thursday, November 30:

10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
1.20pm, Pitch 4, v Malta Marauders

Friday, December 1:

9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates

Company%20Profile
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The%20specs
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Afro%20salons
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Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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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.

Points about the fast fashion industry Celine Hajjar wants everyone to know
  • Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
  • Fast fashion is responsible for 24 per cent of the world's insecticides
  • Synthetic fibres that make up the average garment can take hundreds of years to biodegrade
  • Fast fashion labour workers make 80 per cent less than the required salary to live
  • 27 million fast fashion workers worldwide suffer from work-related illnesses and diseases
  • Hundreds of thousands of fast fashion labourers work without rights or protection and 80 per cent of them are women
Results

Stage seven

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s

General Classification

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

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Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

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Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5


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