French Cuppa 8212; Quicksips

At the same time officials disclosed there had been two previous incidents in France where players broke curfews set by the coach Philippe Troussier. A group of 15 was involved in the first incident and five in the second, two days later. All face fines.

Argentine connection

Fans in the Irish village of Foxford are supporting Argentina in the absence of their own team in France. Their reason for backing the South American two-times champions goes back 200 years 8212; but it8217;s enough for the inhabitants to have decked out the village in sky blue and white.

Foxford8217;s claim to fame is that the former admiral of the Argentine navy, William Brown, was born there 221 years ago. Brown didn8217;t stay long 8212; he emigrated as achild with his family 8212; but the villagers want to erect a statue to him. quot;We hope the Argentine team visits us if they win the World Cup,quot; said Marian Trench, who is leading the campaign to have a monument built to Brown.

France98.com is a hit

The official World Cup website has scored with internet surfers around the globe, recording 450 million hits8217; since the tournament kicked off on June 10, Cup organisers said. Some 10 million people from no less than 170 countries have visited the France98.com site, which carries results, news and quotes from leading players and coaches. A peak was reached last Monday when 59 million hits were registered.

It8217;s a stitch up: Maradona

Argentina8217;s former skipper Diego Maradona claims the World Cup is rigged and that FIFA have an arrangement to ensure that hosts France win. quot;I think that this cup is bound to go to France 8230; it8217;s all a stitch up, quot; Maradona told Argentine television. quot;I think it all started when Sepp Blatter announced he is thenew FIFA president after the vote at the FIFA general Assembly held before the tournament.quot;

Kits on8217; offer for meals

quot;La Tour Rosequot;, a restaurant in Lyon8217;s old quarter, is offering half-price meals to customers who turn up in football kit. quot;The offer doesn8217;t apply to those dressed as fans 8212; a simple scarf won8217;t do,quot; the restaurant announced. Its waiters and waitresses are dressed as referees for the duration of the world cup.

Inzaghi votes Japan

Top Italian striker Filippo quot;Superpippoquot; Inzaghi has paid tribute to a Japan side who will be going out of the World Cup finals with their heads high. The Juventus ace said, quot;The team that I8217;ve liked most so far is Japan.

They8217;re fast, they8217;re good technically and they8217;re proof that there aren8217;t any weak team any more. I8217;m sorry that they are going out of the tournament, but it8217;s just an quot;arrivederciquot; for 2002.quot;

Mehdi in demand

Mehdi Mahdavikia, scorer of Iran8217;s second goal against the United States in Lyon on Sunday night, isthe subject of a transfer wrangle. The 20-year-old Asian Young Player of the Year, who plays for Pirouzi, was expected to follow three of his Iran team-mates to Germany.