Anniversary smiles

LEEDS striker Alan "Sniffer" Clarke scored the match-winning penalty against Czechoslovakia in 1970 - it was his England debut, his wife's birthday, their wedding anniversary, and the anniversary of his transfer from Fulham to Leicester.

On a roll

AFTER winning the Premiership and FA Cup double with Arsenal in 1998, Emmanuel Petit slammed home the third goal in the World Cup Final (the 1000th scored by the French national team). On holiday later he put a 10-franc coin in a slot machine - and walked off with £17,000!

Top tune

TOP singer Dec, of Ant and Dec fame, said there were no players on England's official World Cup song, We're On The Ball "because they're crap." He should know all about that!

Penalty hat-trick

ITALY are the only country to lose three penalty shootouts, in 1990, 1994 and 1998. Robert Baggio scored in 1990 and 1998, but missed in the 1994 final against Brazil.

Birthday card

CHELSEA's Gianfranco Zola, was sent off 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute for Italy against Nigeria in 1994. It was his only appearance in a World Cup tournament . . . and it was his birthday.

Double time

THE only player to win the World Cup as captain and coach is Franz Beckenbauer of West Germany in 1974 and 1990.

Highs and lows

MORE than 200,000 saw Brazil lose the 1950 final 2-1 to Uruguay, while in 1930 only 300 people turned up for to see Romania beat Peru 3-1.