A sorry-looking half-deflated white football on show in an exhibition in Leipzig takes fans back 40 years to the 1966 World Cup quarter-final at Wembley, Antonio Rattin and Alf Ramsey's cries of "animals".

The ball has a result written on it in black ink: England 1 Argentina 0, the score that kept the host nation on course for the title and sparked a history of passionate and controversial World Cup clashes between the two countries.

A picture of the official in charge of that match, German Rudolf Kreitlein, a tailor by trade, shows the frightened referee being escorted from the Wembley pitch under police guard after members of the Argentina bench tried to attack him at the final whistle on July 23, 1966, exactly a week before England went on to beat West Germany in the final.

Argentines believed they had been robbed by Kreitlein, who sent off their captain Rattin midway through the first half for repeatedly arguing with his decisions and asking for an interpreter but had committed no fouls though team-mates had.

FIFA credit Crespo for goal

Argentina striker Hernan Crespo was credited by FIFA's Technical Study Group (TSG) as the scorer of their first goal against Mexico on Saturday even though he appeared not to have made contact with the ball.

TV replays clearly showed that Mexico's Jared Borgetti, under pressure from Crespo, headed past his own goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez to give Argentina a 10th minute equaliser in their second-round win over Mexico.

Markus Siegler, FIFA's director of communications, said yesterday: "Andy Roxburgh and his people in the TSG have looked at this again and after analysing the footage and still pictures they have decided the goal will be attributed to Crespo who deflected the ball.

"If there is any doubt, the goal will be awarded to the attacker."

Injured Ballack misses training

Germany captain Michael Ballack did not take part in fitness training due to a small problem with his foot yesterday, the day after his side's 2-0 World Cup second round win over Sweden, team manager Oliver Bierhoff said.

Bierhoff gave no details about the problem but he did not suggest the influential midfielder's participation in Friday's quarter-final against Argentina was in any doubt.

"Ballack missed regeneration training this morning because he has a small problem with his foot," Bierhoff told reporters. "It's now being examined and treated. But apart from that, we're happy to have all the players fit."

English fans told to behave

Aggressive and intimidating behaviour will not be tolerated, Stuttgart's police chief said yesterday, after 500 England fans were held in the two days before the World Cup match against Ecuador.

Some 60,000 England fans were expected in the southern city for the second-round game and on Saturday fighting broke out between several hundred England and German supporters, prompting riot police to intervene.

They detained 378 England fans after they clashed with German supporters, throwing bottles, tables and chairs in a square in the city centre. Three are still being held for criminal offences and 375 have been released but banned from the city.

"Anybody who is with any group that throws bottles or other missiles, that will not be tolerated," Stuttgart police chief Siegfried Stumpf said.

British Sports Minister Richard Caborn told reporters yesterday he thought the police had handled the situation well.

"I think the policing has been proportionate to the circumstances," he said. "I think it was much more drink related, it wasn't the thuggery we saw some decades ago."

'I can play better' - Ronaldinho

World Player of the Year Ronaldinho has admitted failing to produce his best for Brazil so far at the World Cup finals.

Ronaldinho, who plays a deeper role for his country than for his club Barcelona, played an important part in helping Brazil win all three games in Group F and reach the Last 16, where they face Ghana tomorrow.

But he has so far failed to dispel the view that he plays his best at club level. "My goal is to do better and the fact that people expect a lot of me is great because I can only improve," he said. "I have much more to give."

Ronaldinho also gave a vote of confidence to team-mate Ronaldo who received a lot of criticism on his form. "Ronaldo will always be Ronaldo," he said. "He needs to be respected for what he has done and for who he is. We have a lot of confidence in him."

Robinho doubtful for Ghana tie

Brazil striker Robinho is doubtful for tomorrow's World Cup second round match with Ghana, team doctor Jose Luis Runco said.

Robinho ended training early on Saturday after suffering a twinge in his right thigh.

Runco said Robinho had shown an improvement but would undergo an MRI scan today to determine the extent of the injury.

"We'll wait for the results of this before making any decision," said Runco.

"If it's not a sprain, then he's free to train and play as soon as he doesn't feel any more pain."

Runco added it was very unlikely that Robinho's injury would be serious enough to force him out the tournament.

Aussies plan to get physical

Australia are planning to follow the lead of the United States by launching a physical assault designed to run Italy off their feet in the World Cup second round clash in Kaiserslautern today.

The Americans held Italy to a draw in the group stages with their confrontational approach to the game and the Australians are preparing to adopt similar tactics.

"The US did very well by putting Italy under pressure and we'll have to try and do the same," Australia defender Lucas Neill said yesterday.

"Italy is a very talented team so if we give them time they'll hurt us, they'll punish us so we have to go into the game 100 per cent focused and try to work harder than them so, yes, we'll adopt a high pressure game."