Soccer Extreme : England made early defensive errors to allow Germany a two-goal lead with 31 minutes. But a 37th minute header by Matthew Upson got England back on track.

And on 38 minutes Fabio Capello's men thought they had levelled the score thanks to a superb Lampard lob.

But the officials failed to see the ball had clearly gone over the line and waved England's protests away.

Earlier this year Fifa President Sepp Blatter defended his decision not to bring in goal line technology.

"There is only one referee, the basis of our game is one referee.

"Whether you play in youth competition, amateur competition or at the highest level, there is just one referee." (yahoo)

Soccer Extreme : England have been knocked out of World Cup 2010 after losing 4-1 to Germany in their last 16 clash in Bloemfontein.

Thomas Mueller scored twice in the second half Sunday and England had a goal not awarded by the referee in a 4-1 victory that put Germany into the World Cup quarterfinals.

The 20-year-old forward finished two quick German counterattacks within 3 minutes to sink England's hopes of beating Germany at the World Cup for the first time since the 1966 final.

England was not helped by referee Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay) waving play on even though Frank Lampard's first-half shot landed well past the goal line after hitting the crossbar (read :England Seething As Lampard Goal Disallowed) . Germany led 2-1 at the time.

Germany went up on goals by Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski before Matthew Upson pulled a goal back in the 37th minute. (AP)

Soccer Extreme :Defending champion Italy was eliminated Thursday from the World Cup with a humbling 3-2 loss to Slovakia, which advanced.

Slovakia finished second in Group F to Paraguay. The Italians were last, the first time they’ve ever finished at the bottom of an opening-round group.

For the third consecutive game, the Azzurri allowed an early goal and this time they never recovered.

Robert Vittek put Slovakia ahead in the 25th minute, taking advantage of an errant pass from midfielder Daniele De Rossi. Vittek doubled the lead from close range in the 73rd following a corner kick

Antonio Di Natale scored for Italy in the 81st, but Kamil Kopunek ended Italy’s chances eight minutes later, even though Fabio Quagliarella scored in injury time for the four-time champions.

It was Italy’s first loss at the World Cup since allowing a golden goal to South Korea in the second round in 2002. And it marked the end of an era for Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and Gennaro Gattuso, who already announced their retirement from the national team after the tournament. Coach Marcello Lippi is also moving on, with Cesare Prandelli already chosen as his successor.

“We were a disappointment and everyone saw it,” regular goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said. “The difference between 2006 and 2010 is that there are no longer enough players like (Francesco) Totti and Alessandro (Del Piero). He (Prandelli) will have to start a new cycle and I hope he’s got his ideas in order, because the current situation of Italian football isn’t great.”

Italy’s squad featured nine players 30 or over and Prandelli will be charged with a major overhaul. Italy hasn’t won since beating Sweden 1-0 in a friendly in November, drawing five times and losing twice.

Never have the previous World Cup finalists both failed to advance in the next tournament when both qualified. France, which lost to Italy on penalty kicks for the 2006 title, went out earlier this week in Group A.

Slovakia plays Monday in Durban against the winner of Group E. Many of the Slovak players were in tears at the end of the match, and the reserves gathered in a circle, jumping up and down in celebration. It is the first World Cup for Slovakia as an independent nation.

Slovakia finished with a win, a draw and a loss for four points. Italy had two draws and Thursday’s bitter defeat.

Italy also allowed early goals in its 1-1 draws with Paraguay and New Zealand and the Azzurri attack struggled in all three games—save for the final 10 minutes against Slovakia, when the Italians got desperate.

Vittek’s opening goal came on a low shot just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, who again replaced the injured Buffon. He then went around Giorgio Chiellini from close range following a corner kick for his second goal.

Di Natale slid in a rebound from Quagliarella’s shot and, with four forwards on, Quagliarella nearly equalized in the 85th, but was ruled offside by the smallest of margins.

Slovakia restored its two-goal lead in the 89th when substitute Kopunek lifted a bouncing ball over Marchetti.

Quagliarella finally found the target in the second minute of added time with a delicate lob.

Still, for 80 minutes Italy’s forwards were unable to find the net, and no forward scored in open play during the Azzurri’s opening two matches.

Midfielder Andrea Pirlo came on in the 56th minute for his first action since injuring his left calf in a friendly against Mexico three weeks ago. The crafty playmaker gave Italy’s sagging attack a much-needed boost, but it was not enough.

The early exit left the soccer-crazed nation in shock and anger.

The online editions of Corriere della Sera, the country’s largest newspaper, said “Azzurri, Farewell to the World Cup.” Repubblica wrote that “it’s worse than with Korea,” recalling the shocking exit at the hands of North Korea in 1966.

Fans who gathered in a Rome park to watch the match on giant screens began leaving as Slovakia’s goals piled up. (yahoo)

Soccer Extreme : Diego Maradona says he may turn to José Mourinho for managerial tips as he prepares Argentina for the World Cup's knockout stages.

The Argentina manager said he keeps Mourinho's telephone number "on his bedside" and that he has asked the Portuguese for tactical advice in the past.

"I like Mourinho a lot. I've got his phone number, I might call him," Maradona said. "We spent hours talking about football, attacking and defensive tactics. He seemed to me a guy to take to your bedside table and ask him each time you need something."

Maradona would, however, prefer that his team do not adopt the kind of safety-first tactics that Mourinho used win the European Cup with Internazionale last month.

"No, not that. But it worked for him, right? He won the Champions League," he said.

Maradona added that Lionel Messi, who turned 23 today, was by some distance the best player at this World Cup.

"I have not seen a player at this World Cup who is even 30% [as good as] Messi," he said. "Maybe I will be called arrogant but I've not even seen a player who is 30% of Carlitos [Carlos Tevez]. I love my team."

Maradona believes Messi is ready to end comparisons between them. "I think he's there," said the 1986 World Cup winner. "I believe he's broken the mould and is ready, let's end the comparisons. Leo is ready to go out on to a pitch and leave it [the tournament] with the crown."

"Making Messi happy is everyone's pride, including his team-mates'. Because today you see Messi pulling a joke on [Javier] Pastore, on [Ariel] Garcé and he has never met them before in his life.

"And he talks to [Juan Sebastián] Verón and I spy on them: La Bruja [the Witch] is an intellectual of football, because he knows much more of football than Leo, but they start talking about it and the bastard answers back." (the guardian)

Soccer Extreme : France's World Cup squad arrived home to a cold welcome after a humiliating early exit condemned by domestic media as "A State Scandal."

The team's chartered plane landed Thursday in the small Bourget airport, where police guarded the tarmac to let the players disembark away from media and fans.

Les Bleus were eliminated from the first round after a tournament in which they refused to attend a practice session, failed to win a match, and had striker Nicolas Anelka kicked off the team for insulting the coach.

Raymond Domenech, who is retiring as coach, added yet more dismay by refusing to shake hands with rival coach Carlos Alberto Parreira after France's 2-1 loss to host South Africa.

Star striker Thierry Henry, a former team captain and a 1998 World Cup champion who only played 52 minutes in two games in South Africa,joined a small motorcade sent by President Nicolas Sarkozy. Henry went to a private meeting with Sarkozy, entering the Elysee Palace by a side door and making no comment.

The soccer fiasco is taking an increasing political turn in France, where the leading sports daily L'Equipe had dubbed the debacle "A State Scandal."

Sarkozy has vowed to personally investigate the matter. He met with Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot on Wednesday to discuss ways to reform French soccer.

"The head of state asked the ministers to ensure that those responsible learn the lessons of this disaster quickly," Sarkozy's office said in a statement, implying that several managers from the team and federation could resign. "He also asked the ministers to ensure that no financial reward is given."

Henry and some other team members have confirmed they aren't taking any bonuses from the World Cup, including from private sponsors. (AP)

Soccer Extreme : A female journalist has claimed Algeria footballer Rafik Saifi slapped her in the face after his side were knocked out of the World Cup.

"I was waiting for the Algerian players. When Saifi came I just moved away. I felt a hit," Asma Halimi told BBC World Service.

The journalist, who works for Algerian newspaper Competition, said she had a disagreement with Saifi a year ago.

"I will make [a] complaint with Fifa and the police," she added.

The BBC World Service's Richard Connelly witnessed the incident in the mixed zone - an area where journalists and players congregate - after the match.

"Rafik Saifi slapped the face of journalist Asma Halifi," said Connelly.

"She hit him back as a reflex. He then threw a bottle of sports drink which missed and had to be restrained from attacking her again."

The BBC understands the altercation comes after a year of bad feelings between the pair.

Halifi told Connelly that Saifi had taken exception to an interview that she translated and published in her newspaper.

Shei added that she intended to complain to Fifa and to the police.

An Algerian federation spokesman said he had no information about the incident and so could not comment.

There was nobody immediately available from Fifa.

The Algerians had just been knocked out of the World Cup after losing to an injury-time goal by Landon Donovan of the United States. (bbc)

Soccer Extreme : Over and over, everything seemed to go against them. A referee took away a win last week, and a linesman disallowed another goal Wednesday.

Now there was just 3 1/2 minutes left in their World Cup, just that much remaining until all the doubts about American soccer would rise again.

But then, in one of the most stunning turnarounds in World Cup history, Landon Donovan scored on a lightning fast counterattack 45 seconds into 4 minutes of injury time. With the most amazing late-game moment in American soccer, the United States beat Algeria 1-0 and reached the World Cup's second round.

"This team embodies what the American spirit is about," Donovan said. "We had a goal disallowed the other night, We had another good goal disallowed tonight. But we just keep going. And I think that's what people admire so much about Americans. And I'm damn proud."

Former President Bill Clinton lingered in the locker room for 45 minutes after the game to congratulate the players. When Donovan scored, raucous cheers erupted on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and even in White House auditoriums in Washington, D.C., according to e-mails sent to U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati.

"That's probably going to capture more people's attention than if we won the game 3-0 and it was easy," American goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "That emotion, that passion is what American sports fans thrive on."

The United States won its first World Cup match in eight years and finished atop its first-round group for the first time since the original World Cup in 1930. With a quick turnaround, the Americans play Ghana on Saturday night in Rustenburg for a spot in the quarterfinals. Ghana won the final match of the opening round against the Americans to knock them out of the tournament in Germany four years ago.

Clint Dempsey appeared to score in the 21st minute off the rebound of Herculez Gomez's shot. But the goal was called offside.

Dempsey's 12-yard shot off Jozy Altidore's cross clanked off the far post in the 57th minute, and when the rebound came back to Dempsey, he put the follow shot wide to the near side.

"You shake it out of your head and keep on fighting," Dempsey said.

Knowing England was ahead of Slovenia at the half, the U.S. put in offensive substitutes, first Benny Feilhaber at the start of the second half, then Edson Buddle in the 64th and finally DaMarcus Beasley in the 81st.

"The second half wasn't a soccer game — it was more like ... a track meet. Back and forth, back and forth, both teams are so desperate," Howard said.

Howard started the counter-attack that led to the goal when he knocked down an Algerian shot and rolled the ball to Donovan on the right flank. Donovan moved upfield and passed ahead to Jozy Altidore just inside the 18-yard box.

"Landon kind of knows me a little bit," Howard said. "He breaks out when I get the ball and it's kind of easy to find him."

Altidore's right-footed cross was flicked by Dempsey as he crashed into goalkeeper Rais Bolhi.

"I couldn't chip it over the keeper, so I just tried to hit it under him — hit it hard," Dempsey said.

As Dempsey tumbled over the goalkeeper, the ball rolled back out. In ran Donovan, who with a right-footed shot from 7 yards, slammed the ball into the lower left corner. It was the first injury-time goal that lifted a nation into the knockout phase since Uruguay's Daniel Fonseca scored against South Korea in 1990, according to STATS LLC.

"The moment kind of slowed down for me. It was as much a reaction as anything," Donovan said. "I kind of hesitated. I didn't know if he was going to play it across the goal or try to cut it back to me. Once he played it in front of the goal, I didn't sprint, but I kept my run going and once it popped off the goalie, then I picked up a little to get there."

After his U.S. record 44th international goal, Donovan joyously ran to the corner flag, sliding headfirst in a belly flop, and his teammates ran down the touchline to mob him.

"A lot of kisses. A little uncomfortable," Donovan said. "It's something I'll have imbedded in my mind forever."

When the game ended, Donovan kicked the final ball into the stands.

"Someone got a nice souvenir," he said.

He was in tears and even 30 minutes later his eyes watered and voice cracked as he talked about the goal. The field long empty, American fans remained in the stands, still cheering, waving the Stars and Stripes and blowing vuvuzelas.

As a 20-year-old in 2002, Donovan scored two goals and became a star. But expectations became crushing in 2006, went he went scoreless. With his fourth World Cup goal, Donovan tied Bert Patenaude (1930) as the American leader.

"I've been through a lot in the last four years," Donovan said with tears in his eyes. "And I'm so glad it culminated this way. It makes me believe in good in the world. When you try to do things the right way, that's good to see them get rewarded."

The United States finished a World Cup game with a shutout for just the fifth time in 28 matches (7-16-5) and topped Group C with 5 points.

England (1-0-2), which beat Slovenia 1-0 moments earlier, also had five points but finished second because the U.S. scored four goals to two for the English. Slovenia (1-1-1) was third with four points, missing advancing because of Donovan's heroics. Algeria (0-2-1) was last with one point.

The Desert Foxes were making their third World Cup appearance following first-round elimination in 1982 and 1986. Algeria was the fourth African team to exit the first World Cup on African soil, following Cameroon, Nigeria and host South Africa.

"I think that Africa is on the right road," coach Rabah Saadane said. "What we need in our national teams and squads is stability and a lot of discipline, and I think in a few years time, Africa will have among the best teams in the world."

Dempsey needed four stitches to close a cut on his lip.

It was yet another late goal for the United States, which came from behind to tie England 1-1 in its opener, then rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit against Slovenia and would have won had Maurice Edu's 85th-minute goal been allowed. In six of the final 10 qualifiers, the Americans gave up the first goals — but they bounced back to win three of those games and tie two others.

"That was a really special feeling," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "These guys put a lot into it, they never quit.

"We're proud. We finished first in our group. Five points, didn't lose a match. So we're ready."

Howard bounced up and down in elation after the game. Feilhaber took a water bottle and sprayed his teammates, and it felt as good as champagne.

"We're not done yet," Donovan said. "We believe, man. We're alive, baby." (yahoo)

Soccer Extreme : "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" is a song by Colombian singer Shakira. It features South African band Freshlyground. It is the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, along with its Spanish language version, titled "Waka Waka (Esto es África)". Released on May 11 for digital download, the song has received generally positive critical reception, and has become a worldwide hit.

It was later included on Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album, released on May 31. "Waka Waka" was performed by Shakira and Freshlyground at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Kick-Off concert in Soweto on June 10. It was also sung at the opening ceremony, before the South Africa vs. Mexico match in Soccer City Stadium on June 11, and will be performed at the final on July 11.

"Waka Waka" is based upon a traditional African soldiers' song named Zangalewa, a 1986 makossa hit for Cameroonian group Golden Sounds. It appears Shakira reinterpreted the song without permission of the band, and after legal intervention by the band, an undisclosed deal was struck with Sony Music.

The song was officially chosen as the anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. About this, Shakira said "I am honored that 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' was chosen to be part of the excitement and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The FIFA World Cup is a miracle of global excitement, connecting every country, race, religion and condition around a single passion. It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that’s what this song is about." Shakira added that "African music is so inspiring and is poised to take its place on the global pop culture stage. I was proud to be able to work with one of South Africa's most acclaimed groups, Freshlyground. Through "20 Centers for 2010" and 1GOAL, FIFA and its partners have committed to creating a lasting legacy of education for all – an issue that has been close to my heart for many years".

About the collaboration, Zolani Mahola of Freshlyground said that "We are thrilled to have collaborated with Shakira on 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)', especially as we feel that the song captures the spirit and energy of the African World Cup. We are certain the song will inspire people around the world to celebrate the gathering of nations at the place where it all started. Here in Africa!"

"Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" debuted at number forty-three on the June 17, 2010 chart of the Billboard Hot 100 and number twenty-three on Hot Digital Songs, with selling of 56,000 Digital downloads, becomes Shakira second-highest debut on the chart. "Waka Waka" also debuted at No.47 on Hot Latin Songs and No.35 on Latin Pop songs. On the successive week, June 19, 2010 it becomes Greatest Gainer, with peak position 26 on Hot latin Songs and No. 11 on Latin Pop song, and debuted on Tropical Song at 37.

On the Canadian Hot 100, the song debuted at No.65 on the May 29, 2010. Then on the June 19, 2010 "Waka Waka" re-entered at 72 as Best-Comeback. On the successive week, it jumps up sixty position and peaked at 14 with 298% increase.On the European Hot 100, "Waka Waka" debuted at 88 and currently peaked at number two, becomes Shakira second highest peaked song on the chart, after Hips Don't Lie.

"Waka Waka" debuted at number twenty-three on Australian Physical Singles Chart on June 14,2010 and currently peaked at number six. On June 21,2010 the make debuted at number thirty-nine on Australian Top 50 Singles Chart and number thirty-seven selling 2,750 copies. This become Shakira ninth top 50 single on the Aria single chart.

On the UK Singles Chart charted within the Top 40 at peak position of thirty-eight. On the June 19, 2010 Shakira debuted at number twelve on Japan Hot 100. On the Spanish Single Charts on May 16, 2010 "Waka Waka" debuted at number eighteenth with most stronger entry at Top 50. On the successive week, peaked at position fourteen, and then on his third week peaked at number nine, and on fourth week topped the chart. "Waka Waka" debuted at number 23 at Irish Singles Charts.

The single has become a worldwide hit with No.1 spots in 17 countries including Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and host country South Africa. According to Colombia Record Label, "Waka Waka" cross 27,000 legal digital downloads in Mexico alone. AFStereo's Aircheck said that "Waka Waka" was played 518 times on 30 of the radio stations it monitored, as well as six television channels in May Month. (Wikipedia)




Music video by Shakira featuring Freshlyground performing Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)

Soccer Extreme : A rift between Raymond Domenech and his players appeared unbridgeable Monday after the French coach described them as “stupid” and revealed that some were refusing to play against South Africa.

“What they did was unqualifiedly stupid,” Domenech said of the players’ decision Sunday to walk—out of a training session in protest at the expulsion from the squad of bad boy Nicolas Anelka.

Domenech also admitted that he might have to exclude players that planned to boycott Tuesday’s match.

“It is a possibility,” he said, adding that he and his staff would evaluate later on Monday the players best suited “mentally and physically” to play in the next day’s match.

“I have always been in charge of the composition of the team and it will not change tomorrow,” he said.

The French coach was speaking in Bloemfontein on the eve of his team’s final Group A match against tournament hosts South Africa.

French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot was also in the city and was scheduled to hold a news conference on the turmoil, which has become somewhat of a national embarrassment.

Unlike previous pre—match press conferences involving France, Domenech was not accompanied by team captain Patrice Evra or any other player.

Asked about the absence Domenech replied: “I thought the explanations and the excuses they would tell you would make no sense.” “What the people expect from them (the players) is answers on the pitch and not from a microphone,” he said.

On Sunday, the players motivated their decision to boycott the scheduled training session at the team’s World Cup base camp in Knysna through a communique which was read out to journalists by Domenech.

The coach said that for 45 minutes he and other team officials sat on the team bus trying to get the players to change their minds and retract the statement.

“I tried to convince them that what they were doing was unqualifiedly stupid. Then I said let’s stop the masquerade, the French people have the right to know, so I read it,” Domenech said.

“What I should have said (at the time) was that I in no way support what is being said in this document,” the coach said.

Anelka was dismissed from the squad after he refused to apologise to Domenech for insulting him during a change—room altercation at the half—time break of the team’s match against Mexico last Thursday.

France lost the game 2—0, seriously jeopardizing their chances of qualifying for the second round.

In Bloemfontein, Domenech described the French Football Federation’s sanction against Anelka as “justified”.

“No one can behave in this way in the changing room or anywhere.

High level sportsmen and women have to lead by example.”

Soccer Extreme : Spain forward David Villa (Barcelona) appeared to strike Honduras defender Emilio Izaguirre in the penalty area during their Group H match. Mind you, the defender went down like he had been hit by a bus rather than a silly slap.

Soccer Extreme : Vuvuzelas will not be banned from the World Cup despite the fearsome din the plastic trumpets make, organisers said on Monday.

"Vuvuzelas are here to stay and will never be banned," said Rich Mkhondo, a spokesman for the local World Cup organising committee.

"People love the vuvuzelas around the world. Only a minority are against vuvuzelas. There has never been a consideration to ban vuvuzelas."

Mkhondo was reacting to a BBC report that the chief organiser Danny Jordaan had not ruled out banning the most talked about instrument in this World Cup.

The Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk has banned them from his team's training sessions.

The plastic vuvuzela trumpet has been controversial since the Confederations Cup last year, a World Cup dress rehearsal, when several players complained they could not communicate through the din, which sounds like a herd of charging elephants.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter rejected calls for them to be banned, saying they are as typical of South African football as bongo drums or chants in other countries.

"Look at them (vuvuzelas) as part of our culture in South Africa to celebrate the 2010 FIFA World Cup. As our guests please embrace our culture, please embrace the way we celebrate," said Mkhondo.

He added that vuvuzelas were also being used by fans from other countries.

The vuvuzela industry is worth 50 million rand ($6.45 million) in South Africa and Europe, according to Cape Town-based Neil van Schalkwyk, who developed the vuvuzela seven years ago. (reuters)

Soccer Extreme : Shot-shy Italy needed a scrambled second-half equaliser by Daniele De Rossi to snatch a 1-1 draw with Paraguay after the South Americans had looked like pulling off a shock victory in their World Cup opener on Monday.

Antolin Alcaraz thumped in a header after 39 minutes after the World champions had begun their defence with a desperately flat Group F display in the pouring Cape Town rain.

The Italians were slightly better in the second half, levelling after another goalkeeping blunder in the 63rd minute, but did precious little to change the pessimistic view of their fans and media who sent them to South Africa with a verdict of no chance.

Paraguay had beaten Brazil and Argentina in qualifying so had no need to be in fear of the holders but their dire World Cup record where they have not got past the second round in seven attempts, going out in the group stage four times, was always there in the background.

The game had meandered through almost an entire half of error-littered, unimaginative play before exploding into life in the 39th minute.

Aureliano Torres swung in a hopeful free kick from wide on the right but Alcaraz showed great determination to make it his, rising early and high above Fabio Cannavaro to power his header beyond Gianluigi Buffon.

It was a stunning blow for the Italians, who had looked completely untroubled until that point, albeit without ever looking remotely like scoring themselves.

Italy were forced to bring on Federico Marchetti for Buffon in goal at halftime but it was at the other end of the pitch where they needed inspiration.

Little was forthcoming but they levelled when Justo Villar flapped and missed a Simone Pepe corner and De Rossi stuck out a foot to steer the ball into the empty net from close range.

Either side of the equaliser Paraguay could have had a second as Enrique Vera and substitute Jonathan Santana shot wide when well placed.

Italy roused themselves in the last 10 minutes in search of a winner but stout defending saw Paraguay hold on for deserved point.

Italy, who face New Zealand and Slovakia in their remaining group games, will look to 1982 for inspiration, when they drew their opener but went on to win the tournament. (reuters)

Soccer Extreme : With only a few days left until the World Cup officially kicks off (eeep!), we thought we’d showcase one last bit of footy related merch before we’re inundated with all the excitement, drama, and football hotties our secret chocolate stashes can handle.

In celebration of the biggest football comp in the world, Happy Socks have collaborated with NY design collective Wong Wong to create a limited edition sock collection inspired by the flags and team kits of nine of the participating countries.

Teams available include England, Brazil. Les Bleus and the Oranjes, who’ve been killing it with their own brand of WC related swag. No Spain unfortch, so we’ll just have to play footsies with Iker barefoot instead. (kickette)