The 2006 World Cup finals could finish with one of the lowest goal ratios on record, according to FIFA statistics.
After 56 of 64 matches have been played, 132 goals have been scored for an average of 2.36 per game. The only other tournament which finished with a lower average was the 1990 finals in Italy where only 2.21 goals per game were recorded.
At the same stage of the tournament four years ago in Japan and South Korea, 147 goals had been scored.
In France in 1998, the figure was two higher at 149 and the finals closed with a record 171 goals.
The highest goal average recorded was in 1954 in Switzerland when 140 goals were scored in 26 games, a staggering average by today's standards of 5.38 per game.
Quarter-finals refs announced
Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo, who took charge of the opening match at the World Cup between Germany and Costa Rica on June 9, will officiate at the England-Portugal quarter-final in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday.
Elizondo sent off England captain David Beckham in 2000 for a studs-up tackle when Manchester United played Mexico's Necaxa in the World Club Championship in Brazil.
Italy will hope having Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere for their match with Ukraine tomorrow is not a bad omen.
He was the referee the last time the Italians lost, 22 games ago, against Slovenia in October 2004.
Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo will officiate the quarter-final between France and Brazil. Lubos Michel, of Slovakia, will be in charge of the match between Germany and Argentina in Berlin tomorrow.
Blatter praises Germans
FIFA president Sepp Blatter praised Germany's World Cup as the best ever.
"This is the best World Cup of all time," Blatter told Berlin's Der Tagesspiegel newspaper.
"Never before has an event been presented in such an emotional and global manner," he added. "And from a sporting point of view we're also getting the highest quality."
Blatter said the enthusiasm for the Germany team was giving coach Juergen Klinsmann's players a major lift.
"The Germany team is being carried by the enthusiasm in the country," he said. "I'm beginning to ask myself: 'Who can stop these Germans?'
"Today, all the critics have to say 'Chapeau Herr Klinsmann'. I say that too."
Kahn still hates bench
Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn was full of rare praise for his World Cup replacement Jens Lehmann yesterday but said that he would never come to terms with the role as a substitute.
Kahn, who four years ago gifted Brazil their first of two goals in the final, said he was doing what he could to help Germany win the World Cup this time, a title he has dreamt of since his blunder on June 30, 2002.
"Jens's performance has been absolutely flawless," Kahn said. "He's been a pillar of serenity and run things from the back with clarity.
"However, these weeks are not always easy for me. I'm only human. You've all played sport yourselves and know what drives you is a desire to play. Anyone satisfied sitting on the bench should be sent home."
Van der Sar mulling retirement
Dutch captain and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is considering retiring from international football, coach Marco van Basten said yesterday.
Midfielder Philip Cocu has also confirmed the 101st cap he won in Sunday's 1-0 second round defeat by Portugal was his last.
"Philip (Cocu) told us that it was enough at the age of 36," Van Basten told reporters.
"Edwin (van der Sar) has his doubts but we hope he will continue as he is not only a fantastic keeper but also a good captain."
Van Basten said Van der Sar, undisputed first choice since 1995 and the Dutch record holder with 113 caps, wanted to concentrate on winning trophies for his club side Manchester United.
Injury foils Ukraine's Voronin
Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin will miss the rest of the World Cup because of a thigh injury, leaving the team to find a new partner for Andriy Shevchenko ahead of tomorrow's quarter-final against Italy.
"He has slightly torn his thigh muscle," team spokesman Igor Miroshnychenko said. "He will be out for two weeks."
Voronin picked up the injury during Ukraine's second-round game against Switzerland on Monday, which went to a penalty shootout that Ukraine won 3-0.
The 26-year-old Voronin works well with Shevchenko, one of the world's most feared strikers, and the pair have played together in every match in the tournament so far.
Coach Oleg Blokhin could replace him with Andriy Vorobei, who started against Switzerland on Monday when attacking midfielder Serhiy Rebrov was dropped to the bench.
Thai killed in penalty brawl
A dispute about the last-minute penalty which put Italy through to the World Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Australia ended with one Thai fan killing another, a Bangkok newspaper reported yesterday.
Italian fan Saran Channarong stabbed Australia supporter Rabieb Lukchan twice after Rabieb insisted the referee had been biased in giving Italy the penalty which was converted by Francesco Totti with the last kick of the game for a 1-0 win.
The two men had been drinking as they watched Sunday's game at a grocery shop. Rabieb, 45, died in hospital and police were looking for 20-year-old Saran, it said.