Barack's beer bets

Belgium Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo has offered US President Barack Obama a bet to see whose team wins when the sides meet in the last 16 in Brasilia on Tuesday. Di Rupo wrote on Twitter: "Hey @BarackObama, I am betting some great Belgian beers that our @BelRedDevils will make it to the quarterfinal! :-) #ComeOnBelgium #Bel." Obama has a poor record on such bets, having lost two cases of beer to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper after the US men's and women's ice hockey teams lost to their Canadian counterparts at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The White House subsequently delivered two cases of White House beer to the Canadian Embassy.

Crimebuster Kamara

Former English soccer player Chris Kamara was told off by Brazilian police and the British Consulate in Brazil after catching a street robber red-handed. Kamara, a popular television personality now, posted pictures of his 'catch' on Twitter, saying: "Not lost me pace!!! I just caught this street robber. Done in now, though." However, after explaining he had had to go to the local police station to give a statement, Kamara revealed he had been reprimanded.

Chopper buzzes Chile

Chile's training session at its Toca Da Raposa II base in Belo Horizonte was disrupted on Thursday by a television helicopter. The O Globo network paid for the helicopter to fly over Chile's training ground to spy on the team, which plays Brazil on Saturday. Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli interrupted the training session until the helicopter went away, but the players came up with a different method to try to drive away the unwanted visitor. "We tried to hit the helicopter (with balls) but we didn't manage it," said fullback Mauricio Isla.

This Doll delivers

While a Belgian model has offered to marry a soccer fan if her country manages to win the World Cup, in Chile an X-rated adult actress is trying to outdo her. Marlen Doll has offered to let her fans join her in a two-hour marathon if Chile beats Brazil on Saturday. Doll has been making such vows throughout the World Cup and has so far been good to her word, having already delivered on 12-hour and 16-hour pleasure fest promises after Chile's group stage victories over Australia and Spain.

Nigeria bonuses paid

A team spokesman said Nigeria's World Cup squad received the bonuses its players were owed as they resumed training on Friday ahead of their second-round match against France. The announcement followed earlier reports that players were demanding unpaid bonuses and that a training session on Thursday night was canceled because of the dispute. "It is settled now; let's not dwell on the past. There is no problem now ... that is why everyone is training," media officer Ben Alaiya said.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 06/29/2014 page12)