Missing

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said that FIFA's calendar stipulated the dates on which players should be placed at the disposal of their national associations. "All we can do is insist that the clubs give their players the chance to take part in international competitions."

Commenting on the absence of youth players from the FIFA world championship, Blatter said "any player in the world would wish to take part. Above all, I do not understand why the clubs don't offer their players the opportunity to gain valuable experience. The club chairmen or coaches would find that their players gained in maturity and knowledge. Just ask all the former professionals who took part in the FIFA World Youth Championships what they think, and they'll confirm this."

Noisy

FOLLOWING a dazzling opening ceremony jam packed with explosive spectacles and eardrum-shattering bombast, it was the unlikely Slovaks who provided most of the on-field fireworks. Despite being outnumbered by galabiya-clad locals, it was a humble band of around 50 Slovakia supporters who were making all the noise in the Zayed Sports City stands.

It took only five minutes for Slovakia, participating in its first FIFA finals, to get up on its host and send its fans into frenzied celebrations. Surrounded by the silence of nearly 46,000 stunned UAE backers, the tiny Slovakian throng erupted in a shriek of pure delight as their team slaughtered the UAE 4-1. Wrapped in the red, white and blue standard of the tiny nation, their boisterous delight was a telling counterpoint, as more than a few disillusioned locals headed for the exits.

Sharpshooters

LEONARDO Fernandez of Argentina and Stephen Elliott of Ireland top the table of goalscorers after the end of the first round of the championship. Fernandez scored his team's two goals in the Spanish net while Elliott netted a brace against Saudi Arabia.