MENEM JINX HAS ARGENTINA FRETTING Argentina president Carlos Menem has horrified the nation by claiming Daniel Passarella's team would make the semi-finals at least and that striker Gabriel Batistuta would be the tournament's top scorer. Menem is unofficially banned from watching the national team because of a widespread belief that he is a massive jinx when he watched a World Cup qualifier against Colombia in 1993, Argentina were destroyed 5-0. We are certain to lose now Menem has said we're going to win," said one taxi driver in Buenos Aires. Menem is in France and watched yesterday's Brazil v Scotland curtain raiser but has promised to fly home before Argentina meet Japan in their first game on Sunday. BELGIAN VIDOVIC'S PITCH BITCH Key Belgian defender Gordan Vidovic suffered a groin strain in training yesterday and is doubtful for Saturday's opening game against Holland. Yugoslav-born Vidovic, who is set to join Aston Villa after the World Cup, slipped on a rain-sodden practice field and hobbled off, admitting: "I'm a bit worried. I'll see tomorrow, but now I feel pain. It's stupid. I worked so hard for this moment and now I may be out for Saturday. Coach Georges Leekens said: "I know him, if he says 'I'm a bit worried', it's quite serious. Now I may have to revamp my team ... try to find the right balance again." DESIGNER BALLS A BIG HIT Monogrammed Louis Vuitton footballs costing around �300 are selling faster than the company can make them. A spokesman said the company had "completely underestimated" demand for the commemorative balls, shown in adverts perched on a woman's stiletto-heeled foot. PLATINI WARNS COWARDLY COACHES World Cup chief Michel Platini is worried that safety-first coaches are going to turn France 98 into a worldwide bore. The former French great, who is vice-president of the tournament's organising committee, said: ''All the laws have been put in place so that the players can play. Strikers are going to be protected, but the only problem will be coaches who are afraid of losing and being sacked.'' BALD EAGLE CLIPS ENGLAND'S WINGS Derby manager Jim Smith says England haven't a hope of winning the World Cup. ''England's performances in the build-up have been frightening and, on that evidence, we will struggle to get out of the group,'' he warned. ''There has been no real spark in the last three matches.'' ANDY GRAY'S AFRICAN KEEN Sky TV pundit Andy Gray, who will be working for Talk Radio during the World Cup, is expecting big things from France 98's African contingent. "I'm looking forward to seeing the African nations," said the former Everton and Scotland striker. "Quite a few of their players will surprise us. When Cameroon arrived on the scene in 1990 it was fantastic to see them." Gray isn't expecting the World Cup trophy to end up anywhere other than one of the traditional powers. It would need to take something spectacular for an African nation to win it all, he said. The advantage they have is that it is a cup competition. They would only need to play well six times and they'd win it. That's in their favour and they might just hit a vein of form and might surprise a few people. But I still don't think an African nation is equipped to go all the way and win this tournament. One of the big nations will once again be champions. THE HAND OF GOD A Church of Scotland minister in Bo'ness, the Rev Albert Bogle, was planning to screen yesterday's Scotland v Brazil match on a 30x30ft screen in his church. Mr Bogle, who said he would be dressing up in his Tartan Army best, invited anyone who wants to soak up the atmosphere to come and pray for Scotland as well as cheer them on. DUTCH COURAGE William Hill are facing a potential payout of �1.2m after accepting one of the biggest bets in football history. A punter (who clearly has cojones the size of beach balls) has placed �120,000, at 10-1, on Holland to win the World Cup. Another fan is set to win �160,000 after putting �20,000 on the Dutch at 8/1. A spokesman for bookies Coral said: ''The man is a complete stranger to us. He simply strolled into one of our London shops and put the �20,000 across the counter. Tragically, the spokesman then added: He'll never need to go Dutch again if Bergkamp and Co win the World Cup.''

TV AND RADIO   PICK OF THE DAY Eurosport, from 6am onwards Virtually blanket coverage. Perfect if you are determined to immerse yourself in the World Cup and block out 'real life'. BBC 1 7:30pm, Cameroon v Austria Coverage of Group B's less-fashionable encounter. Chock-full of mispronounced names and naive defenders kicking ancient Austrians up in the air. ITV 4.15pm, Italy v Chile Live coverage from Bordeaux of the match that will probably decide who wins Group B. 10:40pm, World Cup 98 Encore! Jim Rosenthal gets ITV's first graveyard shift of the finals, linking between highlights of today's games. CHANNEL 5 12:50am (Fri), Live And Dangerous Shelley Webb and Kevin Day host discussions on Scotland v Brazil. Then at 2am, insomniacs get to supplement their World Cup intake with highlights of LA Galaxy and Dallas Burn. SKY SPORTS 1 6:30pm, Futbol Mundial Alas poor Sky, the greatest purveyors of televised footie in the world separated from the biggest footballing show on earth by a narrow stretch of water and all Sky are allowed to show is this bought-in package of news and action. 10pm, World Cup Phone-In Noses pressed against the World Cup glass like children outside a football sweetie shop, Sky get a taste of how the rest of TV views their stranglehold on Premiership and England games. Phone-ins work on the radio because you don't get to see the host sitting there, doing nothing, while the punters natter away. On TV, you do, so they don't. Tune in and see what we mean. SKY SPORTS 3 10pm, Bobby Charlton's Football Scrapbook Bobby Gould looks back over his career with Sir Bobby and Dickie Davies (concentrating more on his playing than his managerial talents, presumably). A favourite show with fans of runaway facial hair. EUROSPORT 6am, Premiere A round-up of what happened yesterday and what you can look forward to today. 7:30am, Le Mix The latest news from France, plus a re-run of one of yesterday's games. 11am, Rendezvous France Highlights, analysis, interviews and previews. 4pm (repeated at 10pm), Italy v Chile Live coverage from Bordeaux for those who can't bear Bob Wilson. 6:30pm, Le Match Handily-timed highlight show. 7:30pm, Austria v Cameroon Eurosport go head-to-head with Des and Mottie. Is this wise? 12:00am, Journal At the end of the day, Brian, is this round-up show. TALK RADIO (MW 1053, 1089 kHz) 4.30pm, Italy v Chile Despotic bosses refusing to let you watch two of the most stylish teams in the tournament? Then why don't you listen to Andy Gray (on a break from Sky), Lou Macari, Alan Mullery and Clive Allen tell you about it instead? RADIO 5 LIVE (MW 693, 909 kHz) 4pm, Italy v Chile If you don't watch F1 anymore because of the adverts, you may prefer the Beeb's Bordeaux broadcast. 7.30pm, Cameroon v Austria D'you reckon 5 Live aren't that excited about this one? 365 is all for giving new talent a chance, but commentary from John Murray and Dave Woods? Who they?

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