Question:

SEOUL, May 31 (AFP) - What they're saying on day one of the World Cup here Friday:
Senegal coach: Maybe I am not the best coach in the world but after tonight I am not the worst.
"We played poorly individually and collectively. We had three or four chances and didn't take any of them" - French coach Roger Lemerre on his side's defeat to Senegal.
"Senegal tackled harder, ran harder and fought harder" - France captain Marcel Desailly on his team's loss.
"Everything went to plan. Maybe I am not the best coach in the world but after tonight I am not the worst" - Senegal coach Bruno Metsu on the Africans' upset victory.
"We came here to win, not just make up the numbers" - Senegal's man-of-the-match El-Hadji Diouf.
"Everyone who has listened will know that I'm not surprised. I knew we were going to win" - Senegal president Abdoulaye Wade.
"My view is that France are above everyone else in the World Cup," - an ill-fated tournament prediction from Arsenal's (French) manager Arsene Wenger.
"They showed plenty of talent, but as soon as Zizou is there it will be fine" - France's prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, praying for the return of injured star Zinedine Zidane.
"Zidane's absence? We've got a match to play. We're not going to be thinking every five minutes, "What are we going to do, what are we going to do?" - French midfielder Youri Djorkaeff speaking before the match.
"No player on his own can win a World Cup, or even a game" - Spanish star Raul, looking forward to Spain's World Cup campaign.
"It was a huge relief when the first ball was kicked - it was the culmination of four years of hard work my eyes filled with tears and I lost my voice through emotion" - top Asian World Cup organiser Peter Velappan.
"It's a beautiful thing to be able to come to a World Cup after such a long time and be able to play good football - which we are well capable of doing" - Uruguay star Alvaro Recoba
"He had his chance to go back and he didn't do the decent thing. I know I wouldn't have taken him back...ever" - former Ireland coach Jack Charlton rips into his sacked Republic skipper Roy Keane.
"The people of Ireland may forgive him but I never will. He is a disgrace to his country and yet he is being feted like a hero" - Charlton warms to his theme.
"Football is a strange business. Things go up and down very quickly and you are only as good as your last game" - England youngster Owen Hargreaves refuses to count his chickens over his sparkling form.
"The World Cup is somewhere unknown players can become world superstars. It is the greatest platform there is," - England's Kieron Dyer, relieved to have overcome fitness problems to retain his place in the squad.
"I am not a hooligan" - slogan on t-shirt being sold in Japan as English fans arrive for the World Cup

Answer:


SEOUL, May 31 (AFP) - What they're saying on day one of the World Cup here Friday:
Senegal coach: Maybe I am not the best coach in the world but after tonight I am not the worst.
"We played poorly individually and collectively. We had three or four chances and didn't take any of them" - French coach Roger Lemerre on his side's defeat to Senegal.
"Senegal tackled harder, ran harder and fought harder" - France captain Marcel Desailly on his team's loss.
"Everything went to plan. Maybe I am not the best coach in the world but after tonight I am not the worst" - Senegal coach Bruno Metsu on the Africans' upset victory.
"We came here to win, not just make up the numbers" - Senegal's man-of-the-match El-Hadji Diouf.
"Everyone who has listened will know that I'm not surprised. I knew we were going to win" - Senegal president Abdoulaye Wade.
"My view is that France are above everyone else in the World Cup," - an ill-fated tournament prediction from Arsenal's (French) manager Arsene Wenger.
"They showed plenty of talent, but as soon as Zizou is there it will be fine" - France's prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, praying for the return of injured star Zinedine Zidane.
"Zidane's absence? We've got a match to play. We're not going to be thinking every five minutes, "What are we going to do, what are we going to do?" - French midfielder Youri Djorkaeff speaking before the match.
"No player on his own can win a World Cup, or even a game" - Spanish star Raul, looking forward to Spain's World Cup campaign.
"It was a huge relief when the first ball was kicked - it was the culmination of four years of hard work my eyes filled with tears and I lost my voice through emotion" - top Asian World Cup organiser Peter Velappan.
"It's a beautiful thing to be able to come to a World Cup after such a long time and be able to play good football - which we are well capable of doing" - Uruguay star Alvaro Recoba
"He had his chance to go back and he didn't do the decent thing. I know I wouldn't have taken him back...ever" - former Ireland coach Jack Charlton rips into his sacked Republic skipper Roy Keane.
"The people of Ireland may forgive him but I never will. He is a disgrace to his country and yet he is being feted like a hero" - Charlton warms to his theme.
"Football is a strange business. Things go up and down very quickly and you are only as good as your last game" - England youngster Owen Hargreaves refuses to count his chickens over his sparkling form.
"The World Cup is somewhere unknown players can become world superstars. It is the greatest platform there is," - England's Kieron Dyer, relieved to have overcome fitness problems to retain his place in the squad.
"I am not a hooligan" - slogan on t-shirt being sold in Japan as English fans arrive for the World Cup

Answer:

SEOUL, June 2 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup:
"It was a disastrous result and our team performed badly. I am so sorry for the spectators and for the people back in Saudi Arabia. But I am also responsible" - Saudi Arabia coach Nasser al-Johar after the 8-0 drubbing by Germany.
"We must now keep our feet on the ground because we didn't play too strong a team here" - Rudi Voller after Germany fired eight goals past Saudi Arabia, their biggest ever win at the finals.
"Are you watching Roy Keane?" - Irish fans' chant as they watched their side battle to a 1-1 draw with Cameroon without their disgraced star.
"What do you think it's been like for me? It's also been the worst (week) in my life and my family's" - Irish coach Mick McCarthy on the days after sending Roy Keane home for verbally attacking him.
"I hope that Zidane will not be playing. As a football fan I have to say it would be better for the spectators if he were to play but it will be in our interests if he doesn't," Uruguayan playmaker Alvaro Recoba on the prospects of France's star man playing against him on Thursday.
"I would be astonished if he returns for the Uruguay match" - French coach Roger Lemerre after Zidane underwent checks at a hospital in the South Korean capital.
"There's been no revolt yet - we're so disappointed that we're still trying to understand what happened to us" - French captain Marcel Desailly, digesting the 1-0 defeat to Senegal.
"To beat the champion of the world is to become the champion of the world" Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, savouring the 1-0 win over France.
"You might think the ball is going over the bar and it just dips in the last second" - Swedish goalkeeper Magnus Hedman on the new lighter, faster-flying ball introduced for this tournament.
"To have a specialist like Beckham is very good, it's a weapon. I think he is one of the best in the world" - England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson singing the praises of captain David Beckham.
"To say it was a mistake to buy a player like him is ridiculous - he's one of the best midfielders in the world" - David Beckham on under-fire Argentinian midfielder and 40-million-dollar Manchester United team-mate Juan Sebastian Veron.
"The results will spread by word of mouth," US-based businessman David Lim on the only way World Cup news will be broadcast from South Korea to the Stalinist North.

Answer:


SEOUL, June 3 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup:
"It's Swede and Sour" - Front-page headline in Britain's The Sun newspaper after England's 1-1 draw with Sweden.
"We were told that the unsold overseas tickets would be sent to us for sale in Japan, so we regret that they were not" - Spokeswoman for Japan's World Cup organising committee on why stadiums have not been full.
"I was really nervous about coming to the match because of the hooligan problem, but now I am here I can see real English fans and I feel so relieved" - Japanese housewife Maiko Ito after experiencing the hooligan-free atmosphere in Saitama.
"If hooligans want to come, they're going to come to Sapporo for Argentina" - English fan Bob Mills on his fears for the match on Friday.
"The first obstacle was Nigeria and we have cleared that. Now it's England. I think the match will be a classic" - Argentinian talisman Juan Sebastian Veron, looking forward to the match in Sapporo.
"It's down to me. One mistake can cost you and that's what happened" - an apologetic Danny Mills after the England defender's weak clearance gifted Sweden their equaliser.
"It was too long" - Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho after beating Slovenia to record his nation's first opening-day victory in 52 years.
"For me this is more of an icing on the cake sort of deal" - US defender Jeff Agoos on his return to the World Cup aged 34.

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SEOUL, June 4 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup:
"Obviously I exaggerated the incident for the guy to be sent off" - Brazilian star Rivaldo earns a red card for Turkey's Hakan Unsal.
"A hat-trick would have been nice - but you can't ask for everything" -
Christian Vieri makes do with two goals against Ecuador in Italy's opening win.
"I was really exhausted so I was happy to come off" - Ronaldo decides 72 minutes - and a goal - are enough for starters.
"I wish you all good luck ... and ask you to deploy more effort in the remaining matches" - The Saudi football team gets a message of support from Prince Sultan Ben Abdel Aziz.
"He is frustrated - but Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord and Youri Djorkaeff were there to supply him" - French captain Marcel Desailly seeking reasons for David Trezeguet's scoreless performance as the inquest goes on.
"It's great to be playing England - it's one of the classics. It's like it's a derby in the Argentina versus Brazil mould" - Argentine defender Diego Placente highlights a possible match of the tournament.
"Different players have different personal characteristics and all can be useful because (opposing) teams all have different characteristics" - Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni gets philosophical.
"The temperature and humidity are very difficult" - Croatia veteran striker Davor Suker finds the Asian climate hard going.
"We deserved one point today but we didn't get it for reasons that I don't talk about here" - Turkey coach Senol Gunes bites his tongue after his team lose to a late Brazilian penalty.

Answer:

"Roy Keane is a whiner and sore loser" - lim peh

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SEOUL, June 7 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup finals:
"The quality of this French team is not in question" - French coach Roger Lemerre believes his team will make the second phase.
"I am a Lion and as coach of Cameroon I really want to get to the second round - even at the expense of Germany" - Cameroon coach Winfried Schafer is ready to knock out his native land.
"In Germany in 2006 we will be more powerful. In 2010 we will explode" - Former Ghanaian star Abedi Pele says an African World Cup triumph cannot be far away.
"I think Zidane will be on the pitch" - French defender Vincent Candela says talismanic star Zinedine Zidane is poised to return against Denmark.
"We were playing against a team that wasn't playing football" - French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez blasts a physical Uruguay.
"We sent a lot of messages to the whole world that we have good football" - Saudi Arabia coach Nasser al-Johar says his side emerged with credit after going down by the only goal to Cameroon.
"We are outraged by the finding. It came as a total shock to us" - Japanese World Cup Organizing Committee spokesman Akira Odajima is angry at news that some 11,000 seats were empty at the Russia-Tunisia and Cameroon-Saudi Arabia games in Japan.
"It's in the past now but I will try not to do that again" - Brazilian star Rivaldo, branded a cheat by FIFA, says he will clean up his act after being fined for feigning injury.
"I will be by your side for the Denmark match" - President Jacques Chirac tells France he is right behind them.

Answer:

"England scored the biggest upset of the tournament by winning Argentina tyco-ly" - lim peh

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SEOUL, June 8 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup finals:
"This is probably the sweetest moment of my whole career" - David Beckham lays a few ghosts torest with his penalty winner against Argentina
"If we can stay in this tournament, I think we will get better and better" - coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says England are headed for great things.
"Zidane has recovered and is ready to play against Denmark on Tuesday" - French team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret is a bearer of good news for France.
"We know we are out of the competition, but we have our honour to defend" - Nigeria coach Adegboye Onigbinde promises a strong showing against England
"Germany must now be patient. Our youth set-up, which we have modelled on that of France, will bear fruit" - Germany's World Cup-winning captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer looks enviously over the neighbours' fence.
"He'd irritated the hell out of me with his diving" - Irish defender Gary Breen is not impressed with German forward Miroslav Klose
"I identify myself most with the Witch" - Diego Maradona says Juan Sebastian Veron can still lead Argentina to glory - as he did in 1986, despite losing here to England.
"He's a great keeper and has a great future, although maybe he should play a bit more forward, almost like a sweeper" - Paraguay shot-stopper Jose Luis Chilavert admires Spanish keeper Iker Casillas.

Answer:

graham poll is a village referee - ???

Answer:

england has rural areas mah

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SEOUL, June 9 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup finals:
"We're not aware of the political climate and don't understand what all the curiosity and tension is about" - US coach Bruce Arena doesn't know what all the fuss is about.
"The president will not attend because of security reasons. This was a decision made by government and intelligence" - FIFA head of security Walter Gagg says President Kim Dae-Jung won't attend Monday's meeting between South Korea and the United States
"They were willing it into the net" - England's David Beckham says the fans sucked in his penalty winner against Argentina
"He is as influential to us as Liam Brady or Paul McGrath were in previous teams" - Niall Quinn says Damian Duff is a major reason behind Ireland's solid showing.
"They could play like free spirits and totally enjoy the game" - England midfielder Trevor Sinclair warns Nigeria could be a major hurdle
"It took 44 years to get here, that's a very long time to wait for the World Cup" - Chinese defender Fan Zhiyi after his side are humbled by Brazil.
"What he said happened did not happen" - Slovenia's coach Srecko Katanec is defiant after being sent from the pitch area by the fourth official after barracking the referee against South Africa.
"We are all South Africans no matter our colour" - South African coach Jomo Sono sees a place in the second phase for his rainbow warriors.

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SEOUL, June 10 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup finals:
"We are ready to wait two nights. We all believe South Korea will reach the second round," South Korean supporter Park Hyun-Ji, who began queuing on Saturday for tickets for Monday's match with the United States.
"We're optimistic we'll be there" - Argentine midfielder Pablo Aimar says his men will qualify.
"I can remember everything about the game so clearly because it is one of those unforgettable occasions" - South African skipper Lucas Radebe after beating Slovenia to record his country's first ever World Cup win.
"We still have a chance and we are going to use it against China" - Turkey coach Senol Gunes thinks his men can qualify behind Brazil.
"I don't think it was a surprise, it's a mere mission for us to show the world what we have learned in the past four years" - Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata after Japan score their first World Cup win, over Russia.
"Unlike African teams in the past who lacked discipline, we are remaining cool" - Senegal midfielder Salif Diao.
"The task is simple" - French defender Bixente Lizarazu knows the champions must beat Denmark by two goals to save their skins.
"My team played a beautiful game with so much power and aggression and I am very proud of them" - Costa Rican coach Alexandre Guimaraes says a draw with Turkey wasn't so bad.
"There are a lot of players knocking on the door here. They all want to play and that's very good" - England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says competition for a place is making his squad tick.

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SEOUL, June 14 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup finals:
"Sure, I'd like to score. But I'm not frustrated" - England striker Michael Owen says he'll get off the mark soon
"They were happy with the pictures, but they couldn't understand any of the commentary" - Tajik television salesman says local fans are resorting to watching matches on foreign channels as their country has no broadcasting rights for the World Cup.
"He knows what he wants but he doesn't rant or rave about it" - England defender Sol Campbell says coach Sven-Goran Eriksson gets on with the job quietly and effectively
"Today I consider that I scored twice" - Ronaldo says he's claiming Brazil's first goal against Costa Rica despite a deflection which led the effort to be put down as an own-goal for defender Luis Marin.
"I am positive in my heart" - Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says the four-times champions can make it five
"I am sure they will do better in the future" - Outgoing China coach Bora Milutinovic says the team will learn from their experience.
"It's our destiny to be in the second round" - Italy's Alessandro Del Piero says the hand of fate took a hand in his equaliser against Mexico
"I don't know what happened" - Croatia's coach Mirko Jozic is mystified as to why his side didn't follow his instructions to take the game to Ecuador.

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SEOUL, June 15 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup finals:
"If the referee wants to be a star of the match it is up to him" - Portugal's Luis Figo after seeing two of his team-mates sent off in the 1-0 defeat to South Korea.
"I know a lot of the Portuguese players and they do not like to feel the heat" - South Korean coach Guus Hiddink suggesting Figo and co. fell into his trap.
"It will be tough, tough, tough" - Guus Hiddink looking forward to unleashing his South Korean side on Italy.
"At first, I thought those who jump into this filthy river were idiots but I just felt I wanted to try it in this extraordinary atmosphere" - said Mineko Azuma, a 19-year-old bar worker, celebrates Japan's qualification for the second round.
"It is not a dream that Japan could reach the semi-finals," Brazilian football legend Zico rates the co-hosts chances highly.
"It is necessary to think about the future of those who may leave us" - French Football Federation president Claude Simonet, postponing a decision on coach Roger Lemerre until July 5.
"Denmark is just a small nation with very few famous players" - Danish winger Jesper Gronkjaer plays mind games with England before their last-16 clash.

Answer:

congratulations to england for completing half the trip back to london

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SEOUL, June 17 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup finals:
"I have a great team in the making here after our victories over France and Sweden - they didn't just come by chance" - Senegalese coach Bruno Metsu after his side became the first African nation to make the last eight since Cameroon in 1990.
"Joao Pinto punched me in the stomach, on the left side just under the ribs" Argentine referee Angel Sanchez accuses the Portuguese star of attacking him after being shown the red card in the 1-0 defeat by South Korea.
"This game was all about luck. We had some bad luck at times but in the end luck was on our side. Penalties are always a lottery" - Spanish substitute Gaizka Mendieta after scoring the shootout-winning penalty which beat Ireland.
"All this talk about practising penalties in training is garbage. There is a huge difference between practising them and standing up and taking them in a match situation" - Irish coach Mick McCarthy after his team missed three of five spot kicks in the penalty shootout with Spain.
"We didn't deserve that ending, we deserved to win in normal time and it's sickening" - Irish coach Mick McCarthy after the bitter blow of to Spain.
"We had three or four opportunites and the referee blew for offside. I'm not sure they were offside and I don't think the final penalty (Robbie Keane's) was a penalty" - Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho, protesting against Ireland's last-minute penalty that sent the match to an eventual shootout.
"I would not start changing the tactics now even if I could. The players would not be able to change their style of play and I would not ask them to" - South Korean coach Guus Hiddink promising more of the same against Italy on Tuesday.
"There are injuries, suspensions, fatigue - all are factors as we enter game four" - US coach Bruce Arena counts his problems ahead of meeting Mexico.

Answer:


SEOUL, June 26 (AFP) - What they're saying at the World Cup finals:
"It's not necessarily the best team which wins. If it were then Brazil would have won the World Cup 14 times" - German coach Rudi Voller responding to criticism of his finalists.
"He will never play again for Perugia ... which mounted a character assassination against Ahn just because he scored against Italy" - statement from agents for South Korean pinup striker Ahn Jung-Hwan.
"It's almost impossible to replace Ballack completely" - Rudi Voller digesting the loss of his playmaker for the final.
"If I'd not done it they'd have had a man free for a clear run on goal" - German midfielder Michael Ballack explaining why he tripped South Korea's Lee Chun-Soo, earning the yellow card which bars him from the final.
"He committed a tactical foul that was essential. He sacrificed himself for the victory even though he knew he already had a yellow card" - German coach Rudi Voller takes his hat off to Michael Ballack.
"They were a little bit more experienced. In the first half we showed a little bit too much respect" - South Korean coach Guus Hiddink dissects the semi-final defeat to Germany.
"The Korean team just had not recovered from the last match (against Spain) and in the end we did not have enough energy" - veteran South Korean striker Hwang Sun-Hong after Germany ended his dreams in the last four.
"By coming as far as we did Korea is now among the top-ranking countries in the world" - South Korea's Hwang Sun-Hong proudly reflects on his country's amazing run.

Answer:


YOKOHAMA, Japan, June 29 (AFP) - What they said at the World Cup finals:
"I always knew I would play another World Cup final and I have worked hard to achieve that" - Brazilian striker Ronaldo, back with a bang after four years of misery.
"It's not necessarily the best team which wins. If it were then Brazil would have won the World Cup 14 times" - German coach Rudi Voller responding to criticism of his 'robot-like' finalists.
"This is probably the sweetest moment of my whole career" - England midfielder David Beckham lays a few ghosts to rest with his penalty winner against Argentina.
"You have to tell it like it is .. we failed to get to grips with this World Cup" - France coach Roger Lemerre after the World Cup holders' first-round exit.
"What happened here was robbery" - Spanish player Ivan Helguera says bad refereeing handed South Korea quarter-final victory over Spain.
"I think now Korea have nothing to lose. They have gone beyond the expectations of everyone" - South Korean coach Guus Hiddink says the pressure is off ahead of the semi-final to Germany which ended in defeat.
"I take my hat off to him. He had to make the foul for tactical reasons" - Rudi Voller applauds Michael Ballack for his 'professional foul' against South Korea which led to his suspension from the final.
"Ahn will never play for Perugia again. What did you expect me to do? That I would keep a player who ruined Italian football" - enraged Perugia President Luciano Gaucci after South Korean striker Ahn Jung-Hwan beats Italy with a golden goal.
"The misunderstandings which came to light before and after the Italy-South Korea match have been cleared up" - Perugia make a u-turn and beg Ahn to return.
"He will never play again for Perugia... which mounted a character assassination against Ahn just because he scored against Italy" - statement from Ahn's agent.
"Man, if we reach the semis I'll play naked" - US defender Tony Sanneh makes a bold promise but he was spared after the Americans lost 1-0 to Germany in the quarter-final.
"He's a great keeper and has a great future, although maybe he should play a bit more forward, almost like a sweeper" - Paraguay shot-stopper Jose Luis Chilavert hopes Spanish keeper Iker Casillas will follow his eccentric example.
"I've always said, and I repeat it, that I'd coach my country's team without being paid a single real" - Diego Maradona offering to come to the aid of Argentina after their first-round exit.
"We should have done better with 11 men against 10. We did not use the ball very much" - Eriksson says England should have played better against Brazil.
"I have a great team in the making here after our victories over France and Sweden - they didn't just come by chance" - Senegalese coach Bruno Metsu after his side became the first African nation to make the last eight since Cameroon in 1990.
"Joao Pinto punched me in the stomach, on the left side just under the ribs" Argentine referee Angel Sanchez accuses the Portuguese star of attacking him after being shown the red card in the 1-0 defeat by South Korea.
"When those come off then you go from being a buffoon to one of the world's great strategists" - relieved Irish coach Mick McCarthy on his late triple substitution which led to the equaliser against Germany.
"We didn't deserve that ending, we deserved to win in normal time and it's sickening" - Irish coach Mick McCarthy after the bitter blow of defeat to Spain in a penalty shootout.
"He'd irritated the hell out of me with his diving" - Irish defender Gary Breen is not impressed with German forward Miroslav Klose
"We are not saying at all which player stayed in which room, nor anything about towels or toothbrushes," spokesman for Westin Awaji Island Resort and Conference Center, refusing to divulge details on David Beckham.

Answer:


YOKOHAMA, Japan, July 1 (AFP) - What they said at the 2002 World Cup finals:
"It's a fantastic feeling to be a Brazilian tonight. I worked for two and a half years to be here" - Ronaldo whose two goals ended German hopes and gave Brazil a fifth world title.
"Even in my wildest dreams I had never imagined that something like this could happen" - Ronaldo again, after banishing the memories of the 1998 World Cup final defeat to France.
"It's really frustrating when you make your one mistake of the whole tournament and you get punished like that" - German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn after spilling Rivaldo's shot for Ronaldo to score.
"There's no doubt that Brazil are worthy world champions" - Germany coach Rudi Voller.
"As the game went on, we saw their great individual talent, they are so strong in one-on-one situations and in quick passing and that began to give us more and more problems" - Voller bows to Brazilian brilliance.
"It's not necessarily the best team which wins. If it were then Brazil would have won the World Cup 14 times" - German coach Rudi Voller responding to criticism of his 'robot-like' finalists.
"This is probably the sweetest moment of my whole career" - England midfielder David Beckham lays a few ghosts to rest with his penalty winner against Argentina.
"You have to tell it like it is .. we failed to get to grips with this World Cup" - France coach Roger Lemerre after the World Cup holders' first-round exit.
"What happened here was robbery" - Spanish player Ivan Helguera says bad refereeing handed South Korea quarter-final victory over Spain.
"I hope the result in this World Cup shows Japanese football to the world" - Japan coach Philippe Troussier saying goodbye after four years of transforming the co-hosts' footballing fortunes.
"I believe that without Mr. Troussier we would not have produced such a result" - Japanese midfielder Shinji Ono salutes the French wizard.
"I think now Korea have nothing to lose. They have gone beyond the expectations of everyone" - South Korean coach Guus Hiddink says the pressure is off ahead of the semi-final to Germany which ended in defeat.
"I take my hat off to him. He had to make the foul for tactical reasons" - Rudi Voller applauds Michael Ballack for his 'professional foul' against South Korea which led to his suspension from the final.
"Ahn will never play for Perugia again. What did you expect me to do? That I would keep a player who ruined Italian football" - enraged Perugia President Luciano Gaucci after South Korean striker Ahn Jung-Hwan beats Italy with a golden goal.
"The misunderstandings which came to light before and after the Italy-South Korea match have been cleared up" - Perugia make a u-turn and beg Ahn to return.
"He will never play again for Perugia... which mounted a character assassination against Ahn just because he scored against Italy" - statement from Ahn's agent.
"Man, if we reach the semis I'll play naked" - US defender Tony Sanneh makes a bold promise but he was spared after the Americans lost 1-0 to Germany in the quarter-final.
"He's a great keeper and has a great future, although maybe he should play a bit more forward, almost like a sweeper" - Paraguay shot-stopper Jose Luis Chilavert hopes Spanish keeper Iker Casillas will follow his eccentric example.
"I've always said, and I repeat it, that I'd coach my country's team without being paid a single real" - Diego Maradona offering to come to the aid of Argentina after their first-round exit.
"We should have done better with 11 men against 10. We did not use the ball very much" - Eriksson says England should have played better against Brazil.
"Joao Pinto punched me in the stomach, on the left side just under the ribs" Argentine referee Angel Sanchez accuses the Portuguese star of attacking him after being shown the red card in the 1-0 defeat by South Korea.
"When those come off then you go from being a buffoon to one of the world's great strategists" - relieved Irish coach Mick McCarthy on his late triple substitution which led to the equaliser against Germany.
"We didn't deserve that ending, we deserved to win in normal time and it's sickening" - Irish coach Mick McCarthy after the bitter blow of defeat to Spain in a penalty shootout.
"He'd irritated the hell out of me with his diving" - Irish defender Gary Breen is not impressed with German forward Miroslav Klose
"We are not saying at all which player stayed in which room, nor anything about towels or toothbrushes," spokesman for Westin Awaji Island Resort and Conference Center, refusing to divulge details on David Beckham.