Dead beat Brazilians

BBC Sport Online takes a look at the quirky stories doing the rounds in the build-up to the World Cup.

Dead beat

Brazil have chosen to ease up on their training sessions because the players are too tired to beat their drums on the team bus.

Team doctor Jose Luis Runco realised the squad were becoming listless when the ride home from Tuesday's practice was silent.

"The first indication that the players are tired is that they stop the tapping," Runco explained. "There was no tapping, so we decided to reduce the workload."

As a result, one of Wednesday's sessions was cancelled, giving the boys extra time to make sweet music against Turkey on 3 June.

---

Chain reaction

If Italy fail to return home with the World Cup, the only balls available to the players will have chains attached - according to the Prime Minister.

You will win!

Silvio Berlusconi issued the warning as he bade the squad farewell, saying: "Go East and win...otherwise, stay there! And if you do return, go to jail!"

Berlusconi told the players they had "all the affection possible" from the Italian people, but warned the fans would "beat them up" if they failed.

He was, of course, only joking (we think).

---

Rubbing up the press

It's not just the footballers who will be getting pampered during the World Cup.

South Korean masseuses are offering free rub-downs for all journalists in Seoul's International Media Centre.

An official from the Korea Sport Massage Certificate Association said: "This is our first and last chance to participate in the World Cup."

It might be a long old tournament - especially if some of the seasoned hacks are rubbed up the wrong way.

---

Brown takes pub job

Former Scotland manager Craig Brown is training a pub team to compete in an alternative World Cup.

Brown is back with Scotland

Six-a-side teams from 15 countries are taking part in the Budweiser Cup, which is being played at the Incheon Stadium in South Korea.

Budz Bar from Scotland beat 15 other teams to win the Scottish final of the cup at Hearts' Tynecastle Stadium.

Brown, who is now with Preston, will be taking training sessions and the team will also be advised by the sports psychologist who helped the Great Britain curling team win Olympic gold.