Sampson, a former college-level player, would not be drawn on his own experiences but on the issue of whether football enhances sexual performances he did not hesitate to answer. ``Absolutely,'' he grinned.

To Ronaldo with love

Brazil star Ronaldo is to set off in search of glory during the World Cup boosted by a souvenir given to him by an admiring female fan. The fan gave him a tiny earring painted in Brazil's colours of green and gold.

Clothes encounter

Women staff at the hotel being used by Iran's World Cup squad have been given strict instructions on how to dress. Skirts, dresses and hair hanging loose have been banned. ``We have to be as covered up as possible,'' said a staff member. The family planning movement hascriticised the instructions as sexist and anti-democratic.

Figure it out

England will win this year's World Cup in France, a leading Turkish football critic said today, basing his estimation on finely-honed mathematical induction formula. ``The number 3,964 is a critical figure,'' Hincal Uluc said in his column in an Istanbul daily.

``Germany became champions in 1974 and 1990. And 1974 plus 1990 makes 3964,'' he said. ``Similarly, Brazil became champions in 1970 and 1994. Here the sum is again 3964. Also Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986. Add them to find 3964,'' Uluc said.

``Using this mathematical induction method to find out this year's champions, subtract 1998 from 3964, you will find 1966. Who won the World Cup then? That was England, and you know the winner this year,'' he said.

Dream team

Pele, Platini and Beckenbauer on the same team. With Maradona, Garrincha and Cruyff in support.

A dream team for the century was unveiled yesterday when Mastercard announced theFifa world football team. The group of all-time all-stars featured four Brazilians, two Argentines, a German, a Frenchman, a Russian, an Englishman and a Dutchman.

The team was chosen by a worldwide panel of journalists, who first voted for the 11 best players of the century in different confederations. A total of five confederation teams, from Europe, Africa, South America, North and Central America and the Caribbean, and Asia and Oceania, were selected. From those squads, 55 finalists were picked for balloting on the world team.

The team consisted of Brazil's Pele, Garrincha, Nilton Santos and Carlos Alberto, Argentinas Diego Maradona and Alfredo di Stefano, West Germany's Franz Beckenbauer, France's Michel Platini, the Soviet Ynion's Lev Yashin England's Bobby Moore and the Netherlands' Johan Cruyff. Pele, Garrincha and Maradona were selected as forwards. In midfield were Cruyff, di Stefano and Platini. In defence were Beckenbauer, Moore, Carlos Alberto and Nilton Santos. The goalkeeper was Yashin.