The Highlight Reel: Red-card offensive

(REUTERS)

Days after the Paraguayan President, Fernando Lugo, publicly congratulated the national team for securing their place in the quarter-finals, Senator Alfredo Jaegli used a football theme to express his disagreement with the President's performance. Jaegli donned a comical hat and brandished a mock red card during Lugo's annual address on government plans and achievements, presumably ruling the President out of the next meeting.

(Bad) American dream

US hero Landon Donovan is facing a tabloid nightmare. A mystery British woman has admitted having a fling with the LA Galaxy striker while he was on loan at Everton earlier this year and claims to be pregnant with Donovan's child. Donovan delicately commented: "I was informed of the possibility [of a pregnancy] during the World Cup, and if I need to take responsibility, then I will provide the appropriate support." The star seems unaware of the severity of the situation – the woman is set to meet the publicist Max Clifford to discuss her options, and we all know what that means – Captain America could soon become public enemy No 1.

Life's a beach for Lampard

Frank Lampard and presenter girlfriend Christine Bleakley have been photographed holidaying with the Redknapps to help Frank recover from England's World Cup exit. They are yet to be seen walking the horse down the beach as Jamie and Louise have in the Thomas Cook adverts.

Clash of the Titans III

Football legends Maradona and Pele's war of words continued this week. In a previous interview, Pele had claimed Maradona only took the Argentina job because he needed the money. Diego, in his own inimitable style, crowed that Pele should be in a museum. The three-times World Cup winner retorted, "Maradona is not a good coach, because he had a bizarre lifestyle which cannot go down well with his team."