The Word on the Street

21 Jun 2006

Brankovic set to quit flops Iran

Iran coach Branko Ivankovic said he was quitting after his side exited the World Cup on Wednesday with a single point to their name.

A 1-1 draw with Angola here left Iran bottom of Group D, one point behind the African nation.

"My contract finishes on July 1. We didn't speak about renewal or anything.

"I think it is time for a new challenge, time to go somewhere else," the Croat told the post-match press conference.

"A coach must always have his suitcases packed," he added, but refused to say if he had received any other offers.

The Iranian press had called for Brankovic to go after Iran lost to Mexico and Portugal but although they salvaged some pride with a scrappy draw against the Angolans, it was a bitterly disappointing campaign for what had been considered the best Iranian team for decades.

Blatter ponders plastic pitches

Matches at the 2010 World Cup could take place on synthetic pitches, the president of FIFA Sepp Blatter said on Wednesday.

"In the future, it will be necessary to have pitches that can resist all weather conditions," said Blatter.

"This has to be studied further. We are in the process of collecting the information on this question. Perhaps at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa this stage will have been reached."

Blatter also admitted that there were problems being used with the grounds at this World Cup where some of the grass "is yellow rather than green".

"The stadiums with roofs which totally or partially cover the stands to protect the fans from rain and sun prevent the sun and the wind from getting to the grass," he said.

Ghana government apologises to Arabs

Ghana's government has formally apologised to the Arab world over the waving of an Israeli flag by defender John Pantsil to celebrate his team's World Cup goals on Saturday.

"We have called in the envoys (diplomats) of the Arab world and explained that Painstil's action was not official," foreign affairs minister Nana Akufo-Addo said.

"It was an an act by an individual who was ignorant of the implications of what he did," the minister told AFP.

Pantsil, who plays for Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv, celebrated both goals in Ghana's 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Cologne by pulling an Israeli flag out of his sock and waving it at the cameras.

"We hope these apologies will calm them down," he said refusing to name the countries.

"

Lippi calm ahead of Czech clash

Italy coach Marcello Lippi insisted he will have no trouble sleeping on the eve of his team's make-or-break World Cup Group E clash against the Czech Republic.

A draw here on Thursday will see the Italians advance to the knockout stages, but the Czechs have to win to guarantee qualification for the last 16.

"I'm not worried about anything," said the 58-year-old.

"We want to advance in this tournament and we believe in ourselves.

"So far 60 per cent of what we have done has been positive, and having seen many other teams play we feel that we are a match for anybody."

"I expect to see us play with a great spirit and determination, and a will to win. I've watched the lads in training and they've impressed me."

"They don't want to go home either and they'll be giving it everything they've got," he said.

Blair to the rescue! 'pupils off to Cup

Hundreds of schoolchildren who missed out on seeing a World Cup match after an alleged ticket scam will now get to a game after the British government twisted FIFA's arm, Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman said Wednesday.

Blair had pledged to try his hardest to get the 350 heartbroken pupils back to Germany to watch another match after their trip to the World Cup last weekend ended in disaster.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport then played down their chances of getting their hands on so many tickets -- but now the pupils are set to see a quarter-final game, hopefully England if the national team makes it that far.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn was charged with the task -- and he went right to the top, bending the ear of FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

"They are now going to watch a game as a result of what has been an incredible effort by Dick Caborn," Blair's spokesman said.

MPs in hurry to catch the match

German members of parliament kept their speeches remarkably short during a budget debate on Tuesday ahead of the host nation's match against Ecuador.

"I note, dear colleagues, an unusual display of discipline in sticking to speaking times. I cannot remember this ever happening in a budget debate," Bundestag president Norbert Lammert joked.

"I suspect there is a good reason for this!"

Sing up - and play the game

Argentina prefer to stay mute but the Mexicans and even the English sing with gusto. Statistics collectors Information Builders say none of the Argentines sang their national hymn pitchside ahead of their matches with Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro.

Serbia and Montenegro didn't sing up much either - perhaps not surprisingly as the Montenegrins have voted to split from the Serbians.

The South Koreans and the Tunisians were other sides with not much visible desire to sing up, according to Information Builders, whereas the Mexicans, the English, the Italians, the Spanish and the players of Ecuador, Angola, Costa Rica, Brazil and Saudi Arabia all gave their tonsils an airing.

Superstitious

Footballers are as superstitious as ever, be it putting one boot on before the other or going out last onto the pitch.

Spanish coach Luis Aragones can't abide yellow - not even flowers, while Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo likes to wear black.

Raul is one of several players who kisses his wedding ring on scoring and Argentina's Juan Roman Riquelme wears a medallion given him by daughter Florencia.

Some allegations of superstition have created some ill-feeling.

Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves had to deny that his team was into black magic.

"Portuguese TV said we had brought a witch doctor. I think that shows a lack of respect. We work scientifically and our coaches go to the same training schools as those who work in Europe," insisted Goncalves.

Ton up for Cocu, record for Edwin

Dutch star Phillip Cocu will be a centurion if he faces Argentina in their final Group C match as he stood to win his 100th cap for the Oranje. Keeper Edwin van der Sar was also due to celebrate as he was to win his 112th cap, levelling the Dutch record of Franck de Boer. By coincidence, Cocu and Van der Sar were born the same day, October 29, 1970

Viduka appeals for 'common sense' referee

Captain Mark Viduka has appealed for common sense refereeing from Englishman Graham Poll in Australia's potentially stormy World Cup clash with Croatia which will decide a place in the second round.

Poll has a reputation of communicating with the players during his games, but Viduka urged him to referee with intelligence.

"I hope it won't be a rough game, it don't think it will be, but there is a lot of stake for us on Thursday night and for them," Viduka said Tuesday.

"Sometimes these games can get fiery, everybody wants to win, we both want to win and a little bit of common sense is needed."

"It's a very special game because first of all we can go further in the World Cup, secondly, obviously because of my heritage, but for me the most important thing is (the team) going forward to the next round," he said.

Coach unfazed by Rooney anger

England coach Sven Goran Eriksson was not bothered by the display of petulance from striker Wayne Rooney on his second half substitution in the 2-2 draw with Sweden.

"I asked him after the game and he said it was because he was disappointed with his performance," Eriksson said.

"He felt he could have played better in the second half. It's not a problem at all. I think we did well to take him off."

Eriksson also said Rooney is not far from being able to complete a full match and could have stayed on the field for more of the Sweden game if necessary.

"I can't risk overworking him because I will miss him and we need him. He will get more and more minutes on the pitch, maybe 90 next time.

Ghana "miracle" win puts fright into US

Ghana's shock World Cup upset of the Czech Republic has put a bit of a fright into the US team. That's music African ears.

The Africans stunned Czech Republic 2-0 after losing to Italy, and will reach the round of 16 with a win over the US, who come off a 1-1 draw with Italy and must also win for any hope to advance.

"Ghana was miraculous in the way they turned their game around. That in itself is frightening," US coach Bruce Arena said. "They have momentum and confidence."

"Hopefully we can deal with their team speed. That's my biggest concern," Arena said. "One thing we don't want to do is have a foot race with Ghana for 90 minutes. If we do, we're going to lose a lot of those races."

Hooliganism after England-Sweden match

Police arrested 45 German hooligans in Cologne Wednesday after they had scuffled with and taunted foreign fans after England's 2-2 draw with Sweden.

The troublemakers were known to the authorities, who intervened when it appeared "they were planning something" in a local bar, a police spokesman said.

About 50 Germans provoked a group of mainly England fans in one bar and they came to blows before police intervened.

Around the stadium "the situation was equally tense" a police spokesman said, although there were no reports of arrests there.

Some 200,000 people celebrated into the night in the streets of Cologne, according to police.

Jubilant Germany riding World Cup wave

Germany are in raptures after a 3-0 win over Ecuador Tuesday and are increasingly bullish about their chances of winning the tournament.

"3-0 against Ecuador - now we are going to put away Sweden," headlined Wednesday's edition of Bild, the country's top selling newspaper.

"We are riding on the crest of a wave after three wins and after this victory we should not fear anyone."

Thanks to his two goals striker Miroslav Klose stole the headlines with pictures of his trademark somersault goal celebration plastered accross the newspapers.

"Two more goals for Klose and the return of the somersault," said Die Welt. "Now a last 16 duel with Sweden."