Carbonero would not have distracted Casillas, but motivated him

One of the more bizarre sights at Soccer City was a bunch of beauty queens representing all the teams at the tournament, barring North Korea.

Talking to media, the glam queens disputed any suggestion that they may distract the men on the pitch from their main task.

"Don't blame us -- I don't think that she was the main cause of the loss," said Miss Honduras Blaise Massey in reference to Spanish TV presenter Sara Carbonero, widely blamed by Spanish media for distracting her boyfriend, goalkeeper Iker Casillas in the famous Swiss upset win over the European champs.

"Having a girlfriend (there) might even be motivating," claimed Miss Switzerland Bianca Sissing.

A Swiss miss would say that to the Spaniards now, wouldn't she?

How Italian theatrics denied a Kiwi victory
Italian theatrics cost tiny New Zealand a famous win over the defending champions at the World Cup. Central American referee Carlos Batres clearly fell for the worst dive seen at South Africa 2010 as Italy recovered to draw 1-1 with the world's 78th-ranked team.

The scene evoked memories of NZ neighbour Australia's defeat to Italy in the 2006 World Cup, where Italy got a dubious injury-time penalty after Fabio Grosso tumbled over Lucas Neill.

Still nothing could detract from the accomplishment of a team with some actual part-timers, from a nation that boasts just 25 professional players.