Soccer Digest: DAamien Duff was identified as the Republic of Ireland's most valuable player at the World Cup - especially when switched from a central role to his favoured left wing - by FIFA's technical studies group.
The report, published this week, reads: "Duff created a whole host of problems for the opposition with his dribbling and impressive pace".
Robbie Keane and Steve Staunton were also named as outstanding players for Ireland, who were described as "overall very combative and excellent in the air, good team spirit, discipline and a compact and well-organised unit".
Weakness were: "They encountered problems when forced to dictate the tempo of the game; little variation when attacking; physically-draining game plan". The only tactical change identified during games was the introduction of Niall Quinn with Duff moving out wide.
"Quinn was very adept at flicking on the long, high balls aimed at him and he created goalscoring opportunities for his advancing team-mates in this way," the report adds.
"The tactic was effective as it meant the opposition were suddenly confronted with a brand new Irish attack."
David Beckham was judged one of England's outstanding players, fuelling the debate over his success at the tournament. FIFA's experts have rated him as one of six outstanding England players. Their report also highlights his movement off the ball and ability from set-pieces.
Bellamy's three-match ban
Newcastle United's already slender chances of making it through to the next phase of the Champions League were thinned further yesterday when UEFA announced that Craig Bellamy has been banned for the next three European games for a head butt in Kiev.
The ban means that Bellamy misses Tuesday's crucial visit to Turin, the return at St James's Park and then Kiev's visit. The butt happened near the end of the Kiev - Newcastle game when Bellamy squared up to the defender Tiberiu Ghioane. The referee missed it, as did his linesmen, but TV caught the clash and UEFA based their case on this footage.
Manchester City goalkeeper Carlo Nash will miss the game against Chelsea next month after being sent off for deliberate handball in Tuesday' reserve team clash against Everton.
Birmingham midfielder Robbie Savage has lodged an appeal with the FA over the £10,000 fine handed out to him for using a referee's toilet in April. Savage insisted he was suffering from dodgy guts and had no choice.
England will play South Africa in Durban next year following a longstanding request by Nelson Mandela. It will be the first time the nations have met in South Africa and is the culmination of efforts to improve relations between the countries after the ill-feeling caused by the bidding for the 2006 World Cup two years ago, which the favourites South Africa lost to Germany.
Guardian Service
Nigerian beer deal goes flat
A strict Islamic code - the Sharia - has thrown out a much-needed million dollar beer sponsorship deal for the Nigerian league. The Sharia, among other things, outlaws the consumption and promotion of alcohol and is currently being practised in 12 northern states of the country.
"The deal is off even though the money is very good for our domestic league. But the present NFA don't want to be seen as the one who divided the country by accepting such a deal," said a top official. "We're still shopping for other ways of making money for the league and very soon we will announce new sponsors for it."
Kabiru Baita, a top official of northern-based first division Kano Pillars, told AFP that beer sponsorship for the league is against Islam and the NFA cannot impose such a deal on his club or other clubs based in states where Sharia exists. The Nigerian league has been without sponsors since Pepsi Cola pulled out last year.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)