You may not be going to the World Cup in Germany next month, but you can still
enjoy the sweepstake action from your computer: watch match highlights; follow Wayne Rooney’s progress as his metatarsal mends; even listen to passionate daily
debate on amateur fan podcasts. Kick off with href="http://www.fifaworldcup.com/">www.fifaworldcup.com, which offers useful sweepstake profiles of all 32 squads, together with the most up-to-date team news and details of all 12 stadiums to be used during the competition. A huge video-clip store of iconic moments from past tournaments should whet the appetite and give ideas to the sweepstake entrants: from the sublime (Maradona’s solo effort against England in 1986) to the ridiculous (Cameroon striker Roger Milla’s corner-flag celebrations four years later).

You will also find biographies of the players to watchin your sweepstake entries, trivia quizzes and the latest world rankings — see if you can work out how on earth the USA can be ranked above the likes of France, Portugal, Argentina and England. Fans desiring a genial flutter with friends can download a World Cup sweepstake kit at the (not officially endorsed) >www.2006fifaworldcup.co.uk.