JOHANNESBURG // Bert van Marwijk's two-year project to build a Dutch side capable of securing the nation's first World Cup, carefully planned by the coach upon his appointment after Euro 2008 and, thus far, skilfully executed by his trophy-chasing players in South Africa, faces its final reckoning tonight.
"It's a big relief for us to be here," said John Heitinga, the central defender who plays his club football for Everton in England. "It's a huge point in all our careers.
"It's the first World Cup for all of us and it was 32 years since Holland last reached the final. It's a big game, a huge test."
Spain stand in their way. Few international teams have cultivated the collective verve and individual gusto of La Roja. As challenges go, the Spaniards, on the verge of adding world success to their continental conquest of two years ago, are a formidable one.
But Holland, free of the morale-sapping factions of previous campaigns, are on a roll.
"In this squad, we're really easy-going," said Andre Ooijer, the PSV defender. "Everyone is good friends with each other in the team and that's good."
"What you see is what you get with us," said Nigel de Jong, the Manchester City holding midfielder. "Everybody is talking about harmony and togetherness in the Dutch team, but in our squad it actually is like that. There is no hateful feeling anywhere."
The Dutch, unlike Spain, are unbeaten at this World Cup. Holland's six-game tournament streak, however, pales in comparison to the 25-match unbeaten run that Van Marwijk's side is on.
If a 2-1 friendly defeat, at home to Australia in September 2008, marred the early stages of Van Marwijk's reign, then the subsequent form is telling. Holland were unbeaten through qualifying, albeit in probably the weakest group, one that included Iceland, Macedonia, Norway and Scotland.
Holland's tame surrender to an Andrei Arshavin-inspired Russia at Euro 2008 after excelling earlier in the tournament, a result that ended the tenure of coach Marco van Basten, is a thing of the past.
De Jong, Ooijer and Heitinga believe the success under Van Marwijk is due to a selection system that the players, both the first XI and those warming the bench, understand and accept.
Unlike the last-minute team announcements favoured by several of Van Marwijk's World Cup competitors, the 58-year-old Dutchman identified his side 24 months ago, made a few squad places available to ensure competition, and entrusted the Oranje to make it work. "Everybody knows who will start," said Heitinga.
"We had two players [De Jong and Gregory van der Wiel, the right-back] out of the semi-final because of suspension, but they will be back. For me, it's good to know that you are playing; everybody knows their position and place in the squad."
Losing the element of a line-up surprise has been countered with renewed cohesion, fluidity and potency. Knowledge has proven powerful in Van Marwijk's well-oiled machine, De Jong said.
"If you're not a starter, you're not a starter. I know my place, I am a starter. It's the same for [Mark] van Bommel as well; our block is already known from the beginning. If guys come in, they know it is to fill a position. It's been like that for two years now."
"From the moment [Van Marwijk] started, we had a certain line-up," said Ooijer.
"Everyone is playing for set positions, the manager selects them and when we make changes it is person for person."
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
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Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
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Series result
1st ODI Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets
2nd ODI Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets
3rd ODI Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets
4th ODI Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets
5th ODI Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
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ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
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Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
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Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
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Name: Almnssa
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Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Scoreline
Liverpool 3
Mane (7'), Salah (69'), Firmino (90')
Bournemouth 0
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Virtuzone GCC Sixes
Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City
Time Matches start at 9am
Groups
A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; C Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs
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Barcelona 2
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PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
If you go
The flights
Emirates (www.emirates.com) and Etihad (www.etihad.com) both fly direct to Bengaluru, with return fares from Dh 1240. From Bengaluru airport, Coorg is a five-hour drive by car.
The hotels
The Tamara (www.thetamara.com) is located inside a working coffee plantation and offers individual villas with sprawling views of the hills (tariff from Dh1,300, including taxes and breakfast).
When to go
Coorg is an all-year destination, with the peak season for travel extending from the cooler months between October and March.
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
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Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
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