Irish praised for losing with dignity

World Cup Diary

* The Irish have been acclaimed for their dignity in defeat after the penalty shoot-out against Spain. Matt Holland and Richard Dunne were singled out for special praise for the way they conducted themselves in the doping room. The World Cup chief medical officer, Jiri Dvorak, said: "I was very impressed by the attitude of the Irish players and the team doctor." Ireland also earned plaudits for giving so much of their time to the media. Fifa's director of communications Keith Cooper said: "Both teams that lost yesterday, lost with great dignity."

* Police apprehended a total of 64 people for violence, ticket-touting and other World Cup-related offences during the group stages. By offence, touting took top spot, with 24 arrests, followed by 11 for obstructing police. A total of 40 of those arrested were Japanese, with 12 from England and three from Ireland.

* Nearly half of France's fans want the former national captain Didier Deschamps to replace Roger Lemerre as coach, according to a poll. Deschamps, who ended his playing career last season to coach Monaco, received 47 per cent of the votes.

* The Korean players are being rewarded for their World Cup displays by being made exempt from national service. Usually young Korean men are required to serve 26 months in the army. The squad has also been given cars by Hyundai.

* Fifa's medical staff has administered 204 blood and urine tests during the first two weeks, with no positive tests reported.

* Fifa doctors are hoping science will shed some light on the complaints that gruelling league seasons are leaving players susceptible to injury at the World Cup. "We want to find out, scientifically, what is a justifiable workload for players at this level," Fifa's Jiri Dvorak said. He announced officials are developing an injury-per-match ratio that will be unveiled next week.