"For those who treated me like garbage I say we are in the World Cup with all the honours" - said Maradona after the Uruguay game on Wednesday. Why would you be treated like garbage Diego? You’re only a drug taking cheat, who used 79 players in the qualifying campaign and persisted at times with two Championship players instead of genuine world class stars. But to the little man's credit he did pull it out of the bag, much to the joy of one punter who loves his late shows, after buying time of the Winning Goal in the Peru AND Uruguay games at 38 and 36 respectively (for the lumpy sum of £250 a pop). So cue client cheer and trader deflation when the man who once missed three penalties in a match won the Peru game in the 92nd minute and made the little man do this. Then double the joy and depression when the ball found itself in the Uruguay area in the 84th minute and was somehow turned into the net by Mario Bolatti to send the punter as mad as Maradona and the Argie bench! Many will be happy that Argentina booked their place in South Africa and some will be able to afford to travel there in style after winning £25,000.

The world's officially gone mad. First of all, it's now not safe to walk around your own home naked and then Barcelona go and lose to a Russian chess player! Tuesday's match at the Camp Nou has to be the biggest surprise in football since a woman was linked with the Grimsby job. Hundreds of punters experienced a torrid night, none more so than the punter who bravely bought the time of the First Rubin Kazan Goal at 71 for £200. You could've got Rubin at 20's on a certain exchange and bought the Barca Win Index at 23.5 with us (who said that they offer better value?). After just two minutes, Rubin's keeper cleared upfield, Marquez earnt none out of ten for control and Alexander Ryazantsev struck a gem from 35 yards leaving a bewildered Valdes on his culo. Two minutes! The punter just could not believe it! The £13,800 welcomed with open arms by all at Kennington Towers, especially after a certain good trade.

Champions League Liverpool fans have had better weeks than the one that's just passed. The Reds are down eight to 15-18 on our Champions League Index (and down five to 18-21 on our Premier League Championship Index).

X-Factor Cheryl Cole has taken Joe McElderry under her wing (what a place to be!) and he's really blossomed during the opening two live shows (surprised he's even come out his room!). Will he continue to do his fellow Geordie proud over the forthcoming weeks? He's up two to 18-21 on our X-Factor Outright Index.

Heineken Cup Toulouse have now won both their opening group matches and look a good bet to advance to the knock-out stages. But do you think the 2005 Champions are going all the way? Toulouse are up three on our Heineken Cup Outright Index to 25-28.


Mildly interesting / useless sporting fact

Great goals, great goals, great goals.