‘Joan Lescott’ not a household name in France

France started the mind games early ahead of their Euro 2012 opener against England on Monday, as national sports newspaper L’Equipe inadvertently rechristened one of England’s players – and changed his gender.

In an article on the daily’s website, England centre-back Joleon Lescott was erroneously referred to as ‘Joan’.

Lescott has been drafted into the team to replace the injured Gary Cahill.

The blunder – coupled with the fact that none of the first few French fans to comment on the article noticed the mistake – suggests the Manchester City man is still to make a name for himself in France.

France 6-1 England as French press go goal crazy

France’s journalists inflicted an ominous 6-1 defeat on their English counterparts on Monday, a few hours before the two countries were due to face off in their opening Euro 2012 match at Donetsk’s Donbass Arena.

Former World Cup-winner Robert Pires was the inspiration behind the French victory, against a side containing former England international – and Marseille star – Chris Waddle.

“We lost a very close game 1-6,” wrote The Times’ Matt Dickinson on Twitter.

“French dirty tricks – passing, flicks, feints and Robert Pires.”

Do svidaniya Alonso?

If his style preferences are anything to go by, Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso could soon be leaving La Roja for the Russian national team.

At the start of the Euro, the Real Madrid player posted a picture on Twitter of the Russian jersey with the words: “Russian kit is quality.”

Then again, it also resembles the Spanish jersey, only with a blue and white diagonal stripe across the front...

Voodoo betting

An Austrian betting firm has caused a minor uproar with a new ad campaign featuring a voodoo doll wearing the German flag. In the TV spot, a fan pricks a needle into the doll’s foot causing a German player to go down with an injury.

The campaign has sparked a wave of complaints on the website of the Austrian council on advertising, with fans - including many Germans living in Austria - describing it as “openly racist,” “inciting violence,” “tasteless and dumb,” “xenophobic” and “completely inappropriate.”

Austria and Germany have a notorious sports rivalry, but it is generally more light-hearted with encounters between the two countries always well attended.

Not always greener on the other side

After complaints about the grass in the Euro 2012 stadiums in Poland being too dry or too long, one Austrian firm is struggling not to gloat.

Richter Rasen supplied the pitch to three of the stadiums in Ukraine, and in none of those cases, there have been problems so far.

Poland on the other hand chose a cheaper option.

“Maybe they regret it now,” said company director Alexander Richter.