Football
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Middle East conflict impacts soccer
Palestine's football dreams take a battering
When it comes to talent, Palestine may well be able to compete with other football teams in the region, but growth and development are hampered by the situation in the Palestinian territories. The explosion of violence between Israel and Hamas in May seriously disrupted preparations for the World Cup qualifiers. John Duerden reports
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Mbappe, Lukaku and Co. – Euro players with African heritage
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Mbappe, Lukaku and Co. – Euro players with African heritage
Among the 24 squads at the Euros, dozens of players with African roots will turn out in the June 11-July 11 tournament. Several of them are top names at this pan-continental event. By Stefan Nestler
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2022 FIFA World Cup and human rights
Pointing the finger at Qatar's rulers is not enough
As Qatar prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the country has come under fire for its treatment of migrant workers, with some nations calling for a boycott of the contest. But this simply misreads the realities of the situation and the underlying problems associated with international migration. By Sebastian Sons
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Stealth wealth from the Middle East
How Assad's family and others have filled their European coffers
Dubbed the "Butcher of Hama", Syria's Rifaat al-Assad is accused of embezzling millions in European real estate. Like him, many regional rulers have preferred to keep their European properties quiet. Tom Allinson reports
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International Women’s Day
Ainouz' "Nardjes A." – hope as a form of resistance
Focussing on the Algerian protest movement, "Nardjes A." by Karim Ainouz, is about the universal power of hope to change the social and political status quo in the Maghreb country. By Rene Wildangel
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Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt
Politics casts a long shadow
This evening, Algeria will play Senegal in Cairo International Stadium in the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Joseph Hammond takes a look at how the football championship has unfolded for Egypt and its relevance for the country, which was not originally slated to host the competition at all
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Berlinale 2019: Marwa Zein's "Khartoum Offside"
Football, film and freedom in Sudan
Marwa Zein has made an impressive documentary about the Sudanese women's football team, if only the national football association would recognise it as such. The players are neither allowed to represent their country at international level nor set up a domestic women's football league. By Rene Wildangel
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Film review: "The 90 Minute War"
A level playing field
A comedy about one of the world's longest-running violent conflicts? Can that work? It certainly can! "The 90 Minute War" uses a soccer match to highlight the issues of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, taking a humorous and sarcastic look at what is actually a deadly serious and ideologically charged debate. By Eva-Maria Verfürth
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Iran at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Battling on several fronts
Iran's participation in the 2018 Football World Cup in Russia – the fifth time the nation has taken part in the competition – should be a joyous occasion for soccer-mad Iranians. But foreign sanctions and domestic restrictions are subduing the celebratory mood. Farid Ashrafian reports
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Moroccoʹs football star Mehdi Benatia
No defence against an own goal
Morocco made it to the final round of the World Cup for the first time in 20 years. A key figure in this success was centre back Mehdi Benatia, who ensured the squad qualified without conceding a single goal. No one could have reckoned with the crunch that was to follow. By Bachir Amroune
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Germany's identity crisis
Gundogan and Ozil are not the problem!
The criticism of Ilkay Gundogan and Mesut Ozil for meeting with Erdogan is justified, but the debate is about more than just human rights in Turkey. The real question is: how diverse does Germany want to be? Essay by Rene Wildangel