MIRACLE MAN

Messi has already done everything for Argentina in this World Cup apart from scoring.

YAKUBU'S HOWLER

We talk about tap-ins all the time but what about tap-outs. Nigeria's Yakubu Aiyegbeni prodded past an open goal from two yards and left everyone gasping. The Everton striker went on to score a penalty, but with Nigeria failing to get a winner against South Korea which would have seen them progress to the last 16, the spurned opportunity was all the more highlighted. YouTube again.

HAIR-DON'TS

Ivory Coast striker Gervinho (top) has been stealing a few headlines from Didier Drogba. . . because of his hairdo. His dreadlocked hair and unending forehead are embellished with a black band, and you have to see it to believe it. Cameroon's ageless Rigobert Song, with his blonde rastafarian style, comes a close second.

LES BLEUS BLOW IT

The less said about France, the better. With the aid of a handball, they broke the Irish resolve in the playoffs only to suffer more ignominy at the highest stage. With an ineffectual coach at the helm and a divided, individualistic team, Les Bleus were in the news for the wrong reasons. Anelka was sent home for an expletive directed at the coach and then, the worst case of player power was on display as the team refused to train before the inevitable departure. At least they can take heart from the fact that the only way from the bottom is up.

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO

. . . Ivory Coast's Kader Keita. The Galatasaray midfielder feigned injury and collapsed holding his face when Brazil superstar Kaka merely brushed his chest with an elbow. The Real Madrid man was consequently shown the exit with the referee failing to detect the note of drama in KK's fall. Memories of Rivaldo's notorious piece of theatre during the 2002 finals came flooding back.