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JACQUET TO DECIDE...FRANK OR BLANC?
Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf is hoping for his first taste of World Cup finals action in France's last group game against Denmark on Wednesday. Fellow centre-back Laurent Blanc is on one yellow card and the signs are that coach Aime Jacquet may rest him and give Leboeuf a run-out for his 14th cap, as France are already assured of a second-round place. "Great as it is to be involved in the squad, it is frustrating not to be playing," said Leboeuf.
CONTROVERSIAL FILM UPSETS IRANIANS
German television is to screen the controversial American film which threatened to lead to the pull-out of the Iranian team after it was shown by a private French channel - three days before Germany play Iran. The Iranians were upset at the recent airing of 'Not Without My Daughter',
the true story of American Betty Mahmoody, who married an Iranian and went to the country with her husband and daughter. Iran says the film projects a negative image of the country and at one stage said they might pull out of the tournament. A private German station will show the film on Monday.
MEN IN UNDERPANTS
Marseille retailers have hit on a novel way of trying to attract local women shoppers back to the centre of town in the wake of the violence involving England fans last weekend. Under the headline ''The people of Marseille vote for the Dream Team'',advertising boards around the town will show 11 men in underpants. The posters encourage the shoppers to return to the stores in the Old Port area of the town by offering 2,000 tokens worth 50 francs (�5) to women who pick the sexiest 11 of the 704 players at the World Cup.
SWISS WATCH FOR FASTEST GOAL...WOW!
We are nearly half way through France 98 and the fastest goal is still Cesar Sampaio's opening score of the tournament for Brazil against Scotland on June 10. Should the Brazilian's time of 3mins 48secs not be beaten in the remaining games, he will receive a Swiss watch from FIFA. Now there's an incetive for Shearer and Co.
JAY-JAY TO BECOME A DAD-DAD
Nigeria's Jay-Jay Okocha is hoping to complete a double celebration shortly, after helping the Olympic champions reach the second round. His wife Nkeche is due to give birth soon.
BERTI GIVES THOMAS HASSLE OVER WIFE
German coach Berti Vogts has read the riot act after midfield star Thomas Hassler spent too long with his wife Angela.''He wasn't livid, but he made his point,'' said assistant coach Rainer Bonhof. ''Some players failed to acknowledge the difference between leisure time and permission to leave the team camp.''. Vogts has laid down strict rules after trouble with players' wives and
girlfriends at the 1994 World Cup Finals.
BON ANNIVERSAIRE,MICHEL
FIFA communications director Keith Cooper has promised something 'special' and 'symbolic' to mark Fair Play Day today, but we will have to wait to find out what it is.
Cooper was giving nothing away today - apart from the fact that it is the 43rd birthday of France 98 chief Michel Platini.
PLEASE DAD, DON'T....
Dan Petrescu, Chelsea's Romanian defender, has made it clear where his loyalties lie by naming his baby daughter after the club. Beatrice Chelsea Petrescu was born just three weeks ago, but the proud father has been unable to see her yet because of Romania's World Cup campaign. Good job he's not playing for Borussia Moenchengladbach or, as
Chelsea team-mate Frank Leboeuf remarked: ''Beatrice Bolton Wanderers Petrescu doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it?"
DON'T YOU GO KICKING MY THIERRY
Thierry Henry's mother prefers not to watch the World Cup's joint leading scorer in live action - in case he gets injured. Instead, she watches his matches afterwards on video. ''She's afraid I might get a few knocks and only watches the match when she knows that wasn't the case,'' smiles the France forward, who has already scored
three goals in the tournament.
NOTHING WRONG WITH RONALDO
Cheeky Brazilians, looking for a juicy World Cup tale, began a rumour that superstar Ronaldo had hurt his knee and was receiving regular cortisone injections to ease the pain.
However, Brazilian team doctors were quick to deny the stories, which they stressed were completely false.
''The fool at the root of this rubbish should be in an asylum,'' said Lidio Toledo, part of the medical staff. ''Ronaldo is fine and is, in fact, getting even fitter during the tournament.''
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MEDAL SNUB FOR HERO GEORGE
GEORGE COHEN, one of England's 1966 World Cup heroes, received a massive snub when collectors turned their backs on an opportunity to snap up his winner's medal. Former Fulham stalwart Cohen, now 58, hoped to establish a retirement nest-egg from proceeds of the medal sale but it failed to realise the �60,000 reserve price at a Christie's auction in Glasgow.
The two-inches wide medal, weighing one ounce, was pulled out of the sale when bidding stuttered to a halt at �55,000.
Cohen's World Cup cap was bought by the Professional Footballer's Association for �10,000. It was one of eight presented to the players who took part in all six of England's matches during the 1966 Finals.
He made the items available for sale to underwrite a pension for himself and wife Daphne who nursed him while he was fighting bowel cancer.
Cohen was manager Alf Ramsey's unsung hero on the greatest day in English football history. His steady defending and ability to attack from right back enabled Ramsey to send out a team of "wingless wonders" to capture the World Cup.
RANGERS
Stung by their failure to capture the Scottish Championship for the first time in 10 years, Glasgow Rangers' rebuilding programme progressed with Swedish defender Joachim Bjorkland joining Spain's Valencia for �2.2million. Bjorklund is the fourth player to see his Rangers career curtailed by failure following Richard Gough, Ally McCoist and Stuart McCall.
WEST HAM
The Hammers look certain to lose former Everton defender David Unsworth who wants a move back North. Hammers' manager Harry Redknapp today confirmed: "It looks as though David will be going back to his home area. We have to get on with the business of finding central defensive cover."
Redknapp, in France to take in nine World Cup matches, has denied a deal for Chilean Javier Margras is imminent but believes he can still bring out-of-favour Liverpool centre-half Neil Ruddock to Upton Park. He said: "That deal is still alive and would probably be on a pay as you play basis" said Redknapp.
CARLISLE
Carlisle United are set to sign Barnsley goalkeeper Paul Heritage on a free transfer. Heritage, 19, spent two years with home town club Sheffield United before moving to Barnsley last year but did not make a first-team appearance.
Carlisle are also talking to 21-year-old Steve Whitehead, a defender released by Bolton.
STOKE
Luton Town midfielder David Oldfield has joined second division rivals Stoke City on a free transfer. Oldfield, out of contract at Kenilworth Road, has signed a three-year
deal with Brian Little's men. Oldfield's move to the Potteries means that Northampton Town have
missed out on the former Leicester player.
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News 8 
