A World Cup miscellany complied by MARY HANNIGAN

New diktat: No dictators

AMERICAN retail chain Target thought it might a good idea to stock World Cup T-shirts this summer, but there was a bit of a hiccup with the Spanish one in their range: it features a flag from the Franco era, one Spain stopped using in the late 1970s.

“We certainly apologise for any discomfort or offence this shirt may have caused,” said Target spokesman Joshua Thomas, who announced refunds would be given to any one who bought the offending item. Next time their designers google “Spain Flag” they should add “currently in use”.

That's my boy: The man who helped make Arjen Robben

BAREND BELTMAN

Arjen Robben's coach

(from age 11 till 16)

'ARJEN joined FC Groningen when he was just shy of his 12th birthday and I was his trainer for four years. I just helped him a little bit, his intuition and ingrained sense of play were so good that I just enjoyed the ride. From the beginning he was really good, sometimes exceptionally good, or downright amazing.

One immediately saw the vast potential of the boy: a real lefty who never scored an ugly goal. I only worried about the strength of his body. Would this tiny boy be strong enough to make it in professional football?

He was driven and determined at a young age. He was always on time, never late. But one Friday afternoon he showed up 15 minutes late for training. I asked him what was going on. "We were at the market square, having fun", he said. I asked, "was she worth it?" "Yes, trainer, she was", he told me. At his wedding, I heard the woman he met that day was now his wife and mother of his children. Bernadien is her name.

I do follow him, but from a distance. I am not the type of guy who keeps scores or collects news clippings. When I see him, he's always kind. He hasn't changed much since that time and is still the same down-to-earth individual he was when he joined FC Groningen.

Is he going to be one of the stars at the World Cup? I don't know. He is one of the best players in the tournament and he'll definitely show the world things we'll show to our kids 20 years from now. Is that enough for Team Oranje to make it to the semis or the final? That depends on the other 10 players, our opponents, or sheer luck. I am going to enjoy the matches, that's for sure. I just hope Arjen enjoys the journey.

Portuguese men at war: Deco queries Queiroz tactics

FOR ALL we know 'Uma Nulidade' could be the name of a Portuguese boyband, but considering it literally means 'one nullity' we'll take it that it's a reference to that 0-0 draw with the Ivory Coast.

And you don't even need to speak Portuguese to suspect that Diario de Noticiaswasn't overly impressed by the result or performance, the paper reporting inside on trouble in the camp.

"Why was I replaced? You are going to have to ask the coach, I felt fine," said Deco. "First he asked me to play on the right, which I have never done in my career because I am not a winger, then he substituted me."

Before bidding adieu to the press Deco paid tribute to Carlos Queiroz's tactics by describing them as 'incorrect'. All's well, then, full steam ahead for North Korea.