The backroom team were forced to re-wash, launder and iron all the kit they had prepared for the trip to Cape Town for the clash with Algeria on Friday.

On Sunday evening there was a strong, unsavoury smell at the team hotel and it was discovered a drain had leaked and left two inches of dirty water in the kit room which had seeped all over the above kit.

It took staff a full day to get everything re-cleaned for the match.

***************

A group of female fans wearing orange mini-dresses were ejected from the match between Holland and Denmark accused of taking part in what FIFA described as an "ambush marketing" campaign for an unlicensed beer brand.

The beer company Bavaria deny this had any link to any of their ongoing campaigns, but a spokesman for FIFA today said they would be looking into "legal remedies" to protect their approved brands, with Budweiser having a sponsorship agreement with FIFA.

FIFA head of media Nicolas Maingot said: "What happened was a clear ambush marketing activity by a Dutch beer company, all we have done is ask for some details from these women, but no one has been detained. We are looking into all legal remedies into this brewery.

"We have colleagues who are specialised in this kind of activity and they actually draw the line between what is ambush marketing and someone coming with a shirt that has a competitive brand on it. What is an issue is when there is clear strategy behind it, which is ambush marketing."

***************

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is himself no mean linguist after spells working in Portugal, Italy, England and Mexico.

However, even he was impressed by his Ivory Coast players Yaya Toure and Guy Demel as they answered questions in several different languages during their pre-match press conference in Port Elizabeth last night.

Barcelona midfielder Toure in particular demonstrated a remarkable versatility, replying in French, English and Spanish as he was quizzed by international media ahead of today's Group G clash with Portugal.

Eriksson said: "I was very impressed. If you had put a question in Russian, Yaya would have answered it!

"I think it's easier for the players to learn Swedish than me to learn French!"

***************

England had a larger than life visitor to training this morning.

American interviewer Ore Oduba compiles clips for various TV shows around the globe in a manner akin to 'Dennis Pennis'.

He didn't quite go that far at the Three Lions' Rustenburg base but he did offer very vocal encouragement to England's most famous stars - and asked Steven Gerrard if there was any chance of him being able to wear the captain's armband.

An FA official did speak to Oduba to ensure he had the correct media credentials but backed off when he realised everything was in order.

***************

Former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown admits to not having seen as much of South Africa as he would have liked in his role as a BBC pundit.

Not because of time restrictions, but because of the BBC's safety drill before a ball was kicked.

"We went on a two-day security course before we came out here," Keown said. "And it put the fear of God into us."

***************

Bargain-hunting supporters seem to be getting their money's worth from match tickets in South Africa by snapping up some unusual free souvenirs.

Free condom dispensers, located in toilets at Cape Town Stadium as part of a campaign to combat HIV/AIDS, quickly emptied after Friday's opening match in the city between France and Uruguay.

England supporters hoping to snaffle some to inflate over their heads had better get in quick.