For all the talk of this possibly being the coronation of Lionel Messi and for all his moments of brilliance that have elevated this tournament above the average, facing him tomorrow is a story just as remarkable.

Greece’s Euro 2004-winning coach Otto Rehhagel has turned down the chance to lead his native country Germany into the 2006 World Cup.

GERMANY will be represented in the quarter-finals of the European Championships after all, but not as they would have wished.

ALTHOUGH the Roy Keane saga had been a well-reported subject in the German media, news about the absence of German darling Sebastian Deisler and the whole ill-fated warm-up campaign dominate the headlines and most German observers wonder what all the Keane fuss is about.

Pierluigi Collina, the highest-profile referee in the world, will take charge of the England v Argentina World Cup match.