Porn crackers
Brazil have reportedly sent packing a consignment of pornography which threatened to cause a scandal back home.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is said to have gone "ballistic" after the Brazilian press reported that the squad had been provided with a supply of pornographic magazines after he banned sexual activity during the World Cup.
He was quoted as saying the reports were "lies which morally denigrated the team", before directing a few choice epithets at journalists and threatening to get them banned from the World Cup.
The president of the Brazilian football federation, Marco Antonio Teixeira, reportedly called a meeting to calm the situation, announcing the offending material was being sent back home.
Never mind, lads, there's always The Beano.
England test
Schoolchildren in the North East of England are skipping exams to watch England - with the full support of their teachers.
Selected schools in Hartlepool and East Durham have agreed to put back GCSE tests on 12 June, enabling students to watch the match against Nigeria.
Bill Jordon, head teacher of Dyke House Comprehensive School in Hartlepool, confirmed: "We will set up a facility for the pupils to watch the game.
"I think there will be some who take the day off or turn up late so it is best to provide the facility here."
The game is due to finish at 0915 BST, so exams will be delayed for half an hour - although some schools are vehemently opposed to the idea.
Those taking the gamble will be praying England get a good result - there's nothing like three points to cure those last-minute nerves.
Dressing for football
Football-mad brides in Thailand are getting their own "World Cup Wedding Dress" to coincide with the main event.
The white silk outfit boasts a hat featuring a decorated football and a veil, which when stretched out looks like a goal net.
An embroidered black and white football also decorates the bodice.
The outfit should be available in early June, at a cost of 50,000 baht (£800).
One suspects it may go out of fashion pretty quickly.
Christmas cheer
A group of Santas are braving the roasting temperatures in South Korea to bring along a spot of festive cheer.
All told, a dozen Father Christmases will be making the trek from chilly Scandinavia to hand out presents to local children, along with the flags of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
The happy bunch are due to arrive in Seoul on 6 June and stay for 12 days.
No doubt the football chant "who ate all the pies?" will be particularly popular during that time.