• BERLIN: A clampdown on tackling from behind and the less frequent use of the elbow have contributed to a fall in the number of injuries suffered by players at the World Cup finals compared to four years ago. Professor Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), told reporters at FIFA’s daily briefing on Sunday that with statistics gathered after 58 of the tournament’s 64 matches, the number of injuries in total had dropped significantly. “From all 64 matches in 2002 there were 171 injuries, compared to 129 injuries from the 58 matches collated so far. “With an average of 2.2 injuries per match we expect the overall total at the end of the tournament to be less than four years ago.” He also reported that all 228 doping tests carried out so far had been negative. Change of image • GELSENKIRCHEN: Once viewed as an invading army of potential trouble-makers, England fans leave the World Cup with their new reputation for fun-loving, boisterous support fully intact and praised by organisers. “There have been tens and tens of thousands of England fans here, and before the World Cup they said they had changed. There would be no trouble and they were coming to party. They proved themselves right, they are the world champions of partying,” Gerd Graus, spokesman for the German organising committee, said on Sunday. “They created a great atmosphere, they have a fan culture unique in the world. Although several hundred English fans were detained by police for mostly drunken and aggressive behaviour, there was no serious hooliganism at the tournament. Jubilant fans • FRANKFURT: Jubilant France supporters waved flags and chanted “Zizou, Zizou” after their team’s 1-0 World Cup quarter-final win over Brazil in Frankfurt on Saturday, many convinced the French will now win the trophy. “It was fabulous. Nobody can win over the French,” said Julien Barolat, a 24-year-old from Lens in France.
