Fan hangs himself up

TAIPEI: A Japanese man hanged himself in Taiwan on Sunday after the Asian champions failed to secure a single victory in the World Cup, a report said. The 60-year-old man identified as Yoshio Takanashi was found dead at the home of his Taiwanese wife’s parents in the city of Taichung, the cable television news network ETToday reported. It said his wife told police that her husband had stopped watching television following Japan’s dismal performance in the competition. The team failed to secure a victory, losing to Australia, drawing with Croatia and losing again to champions Brazil.

Ballack given rest

BERLIN: German skipper Michael Ballack missed a brief training session with the hosts on Sunday after a foot injury flared following Saturday’s win over Sweden, which took his team through to quarter-final meeting with Argentina, assistant Oliver Bierhoff said. “He has a slight foot problem which we are looking into,” said Bierhoff. The rest of the squad were given a clean bill of health after the impressive showing against the Swedes and were also having a day off before meeting up Monday evening for another light workout.

‘Klose looks like Gerd’

BERLIN: Germany striker Miroslav Klose reminds Franz Beckenbauer of Gerd Muller, the legendary West Germany forward who is the joint all-time World Cup scorer with 14 goals. “The way he swivelled to score the first goal against Ecuador and the way he moves in the opposition’s penalty area remind me of Gerd Muller,” Beckenbauer said. Klose scored five goals in Germany’s surprise advance to the 2002 final, but has looked a more complete player here, notching four goals already.

Model does a Rooney

Berlin: English model Sophie Anderton has stripped off and been daubed in the white and red colours of the England flag to emulate England star Wayne Rooney’s poster shot for a sportswear manufacturer. Anderton told British newspaper the News of the World: “It was a huge compliment to be asked, even if it does mean being pink for a whole weekend!”