Dead Man Walking: Diego Maradona has highlighted the fate that awaits Argentinian coach Jose Pekerman following the World Cup, "We'll either build him a memorial or we'll chop off his head", he warns. Das ist nicht Tierisch: German fans are being urged not to paint their pets in the national colours. Nail varnish is thought to be the most damaging, and frequent, offender. (Tierisch is German slang for cool as well as meaning literally 'animal-like'.) Hooligan, hooligan wherefore art thou hooligan? 200 known English hooligans are missing without a trace. Between them and the Poles, the German press are beside themselves with concern. Apparently Chancellor Angela Merkel being a woman - sigh - has no idea about anti-hooligan security measures so we are all in the scheisser.
Hooliphone: Frankfurt bar owners have been given a hooligan hotline should the awol 200 - or any of their mates - turn up to tip the balance following the England v Paraguay game.
Hotel hooligan: German police are hoping that photographs of a high security hooligan unit in Tiergarten will deter any would-be marauding auslanders. Senseless insensitivity: Daniel Nivel, the French policeman beaten senseless by German hooligans in France in 1998, has been invited to watch Germany v Poland - the hooli hotspot of the group stage matches. M Nivel is reported to be 'very pleased' to accept the invitation. Deaf Presidents: Iran's head of state Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is threatening to come to Germany for the World Cup. His stance on the Holocaust is problematic as anti-semitism is illegal in Germany but the government is obliged to welcome him as a head of state. Theo Zwanziger, president of the German football association, says all will be ok so long as Ahmadinejad is made to understand that his views on the Holocaust are unacceptable. Perhaps Ron Atkinson could recommend a re-education programme?
