If you feel like this World Cup has been more dramatic than most, you're right. Before this morning's third place playoff, nine of the 14 knockout matches had gone to extra time. It's a new tournament record, surpassing the eight extended games that were played at Italia 90. There have
Football: It's official, Cup has been a real knockout

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Some Dutch fans have had their authenticity questioned. Photo / AP
Beaten Brazil savaged

Brazil's 7-1 loss to Germany was the seventh worst defeat of all time in World Cups, putting them in the company of such footballing powerhouses as Zaire, Cuba and Haiti. The team was savaged by the local media, with one newspaper giving ratings of 0 to seven players and 1 to the others. They were subtitled with headings like 'lost', 'nervous', 'vanished' and simply 'who?' for hapless striker Fred, who has been declared the worst number nine in the history of the Selecao.
Fake Dutch fans
Compared to other tournaments, there has been few problems between rival fans at this World Cup. However, there was a surprising clash last week though, when a quartet of Australians covered head to toe in orange (complete with face paint), reacted badly when they were accused of being 'fake Dutch fans' by a group of Oranje supporters. Things threatened to get nasty — as bemused locals looked on — before the police intervened to separate the two groups.
Hungary for success
While we wonder about Oceania's future World Cup path, it was humbling to get the perspective of a Hungarian journalist last week. The eastern European country was a force in the game in the 1950s and 1960s and still rank in the top 20 historically in terms of World Cup matches won. But they last qualified for Fifa's showpiece in 1986 and have come close only once since (making the playoffs in 1993), with our scribe admitting it would "take a miracle" for Hungary to feature again.
Everything has a goal
You know you are in Brazil when even the large rubbish bins that are placed on streets during match days have goal nets at the back of them. It's supposed to encourage locals to dispose of their litter appropriately but does not always work. One local female journalist wondered if things could be taken a step further, with nets around the edges of toilet bowls in bathrooms, to improve the chances of greater accuracy.
World famous in Peru?

A Peruvian journalist was excited to see my New Zealand T-shirt as we chatted in the press box before a game last week . "I'm a big fan of New Zealand football," he said. "You have some great players." Expecting to discuss Winston Reid, Marco Rojas, Ryan Nelsen or perhaps even Wynton Rufer, it was a surprise when he nominated striker Chris Killen as his favourite All White.