To sum up the horrors I have seen, even David Beckham would struggle for sex appeal in these…oh who are we kidding? The guy would easily pull off Tiger stripes.

Click on Stade de Francais to see the worst 20 kits of our time

Despite Mario Gomez’ first half goal, the Australians rallied in the second half to topple the home side.

A neatly-taken goals by Blackpool‘s David Carney, the 1000th goal conceded by Germany, and a penalty from Luke Wilkshire, consigned the Germans to defeat.

A late goal from Asamoah Gyan earned Ghana a 1-1 draw with England at Wembley.

Recent Liverpool signing Andy Carroll put the Three Lions ahead just before the interval but the English were denied a victory over the World Cup quarter-finalists when Sunderland forward Gyan curled in a fine goal for the Africans.

France and Croatia played out a scoreless draw at the Stade de France, in a rematch of the 1998 World Cup semi-final which saw Croatia coach Slaven Bilic controversially have his opposite number Laurent Blanc sent off.

World Cup semi-finalist Uruguay overcame a late comeback to grab an entertaining 3-2 win over Ireland.

A Shane Long headed effort cancelled out Diego Lugano’s goal but then strikes from Edinson Cavani and Abel Hernandez put the Uruguayans 3-1 ahead.

A Keith Faley penalty gave the Irish a chance but the Uruguayans held on.

The hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Russia and Qatar respectively, played out a 1-1 draw in Doha.

Qatar grabbed a surprise lead through Mohamed Kasoula, but they were denied a famous victory when Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko equalised with a shot that Qatari goalkeeper Meshal Mubarak got a hand to.

Former World Cup champions Italy beat Ukraine 2-1 in Kiev thanks to goals from Giuseppe Rossi and Alessandro Matri.

Greece was held to 0-0 draw by Poland in Piraeus despite a handful of scoring opportunities falling their way in each half.

Portugal beat Finland in Aviero thanks a brace from debutant Rúben Micael.

Canada edged out Belarus at a near-empty stadium in Antalya in Turkey courtesy of a 58th minute strike from Houston Dynamo defender Andre Hainault.

A Michael Krohn-Dehli winner saw Denmark come out on top against Slovakia. Denmark drew first blood after an own goal from Slovakia’s Kornel Salata although the Slovakians drew level Filip Holosko but it was the Brondby midfielder who had the last laugh for the Danes.

A solitary goal separated Bulgaria and Cyprus with the Bulgarians coming out on top courtesy of a contentious Martin Petrov goal.

In Asia, China resoundingly defeated Honduras by three goals thanks to a from goal from Huang Bowen, and a Yang Xu double – all of which were set up by Schalke midfielder Hao Junmin.

In Latin America, Ecuador were held 0-0 by Peru in The Hague, Netherlands.

The Peruvians, who were reduced to 10 men, managed to hold on after goalkeeper Salomon Libman’s saved Ecuador captain Walter Ayovi’s penalty in the first half.

A Matias Fernandez free-kick and Jean Beausejour strike saw Chile beat Colombia 2-0.

A neatly-taken goals by Blackpool‘s David Carney, the 1000th goal conceded by Germany, and a penalty from Luke Wilkshire, consigned the Germans to defeat.

A late goal from Asamoah Gyan earned Ghana a 1-1 draw with England at Wembley.

Recent Liverpool signing Andy Carroll put the Three Lions ahead just before the interval but the English were denied a victory over the World Cup quarter-finalists when Sunderland forward Gyan curled in a fine goal for the Africans.

France and Croatia played out a scoreless draw at the Stade de France, in a rematch of the 1998 World Cup semi-final which saw Croatia coach Slaven Bilic controversially have his opposite number Laurent Blanc sent off.

World Cup semi-finalist Uruguay overcame a late comeback to grab an entertaining 3-2 win over Ireland.

A Shane Long headed effort cancelled out Diego Lugano’s goal but then strikes from Edinson Cavani and Abel Hernandez put the Uruguayans 3-1 ahead.

A Keith Faley penalty gave the Irish a chance but the Uruguayans held on.

The hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Russia and Qatar respectively, played out a 1-1 draw in Doha.

Qatar grabbed a surprise lead through Mohamed Kasoula, but they were denied a famous victory when Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko equalised with a shot that Qatari goalkeeper Meshal Mubarak got a hand to.

Former World Cup champions Italy beat Ukraine 2-1 in Kiev thanks to goals from Giuseppe Rossi and Alessandro Matri.

Greece was held to 0-0 draw by Poland in Piraeus despite a handful of scoring opportunities falling their way in each half.

Portugal beat Finland in Aviero thanks a brace from debutant Rúben Micael.

Canada edged out Belarus at a near-empty stadium in Antalya in Turkey courtesy of a 58th minute strike from Houston Dynamo defender Andre Hainault.

A Michael Krohn-Dehli winner saw Denmark come out on top against Slovakia. Denmark drew first blood after an own goal from Slovakia’s Kornel Salata although the Slovakians drew level Filip Holosko but it was the Brondby midfielder who had the last laugh for the Danes.

A solitary goal separated Bulgaria and Cyprus with the Bulgarians coming out on top courtesy of a contentious Martin Petrov goal.

In Asia, China resoundingly defeated Honduras by three goals thanks to a from goal from Huang Bowen, and a Yang Xu double – all of which were set up by Schalke midfielder Hao Junmin.

In Latin America, Ecuador were held 0-0 by Peru in The Hague, Netherlands.

The Peruvians, who were reduced to 10 men, managed to hold on after goalkeeper Salomon Libman’s saved Ecuador captain Walter Ayovi’s penalty in the first half.

A Matias Fernandez free-kick and Jean Beausejour strike saw Chile beat Colombia 2-0.

Australia play Sri Lanka in the one-day international tournament on Saturday at almost the same time as Villa step out at Bolton‘s Reebok Stadium.

Herd, who was given his first start as the Villains crashed out of the FA Cup with a 3-0 loss at Manchester City on Wednesday, has told the Villa website of his second love – cricket.

Herd, who had previously made five brief substitute appearances this season, admits he was almost lost to cricket growing up in Perth.

“Ever since I was a little boy I had a ball at my feet, kicking it around in the back garden,” he told the club’s website:

“I got into football locally over in Australia and kept on playing. My dad coached me when I was younger growing up.”

“He was heavily involved in football and it just felt right and natural to follow in his footsteps.”

“But I took cricket quite seriously, to be fair, back then too. I played a lot in the off-season while I played football in season. But it was never really a difficult choice because I always knew it was going to be football for me.”

“Cricket is obviously well known as a major sport in Australia but football is growing and getting bigger all the time and is one of the biggest and most popular in the country now.”

“I did love playing cricket. I was a batsman.”

“I did a bit of bowling but my main strength was always my batting. But I always had my main focus on football. That never wavered.”

“That was always my main goal. I always dreamed of being a footballer.

“But I did love cricket too as a sport. It’s a good passion too now when I watch it. I don’t play it seriously. When I go home I have a bit of a knockabout with the boys but nothing too strenuous.

“I obviously follow the Australian team and I will be following their progress in the World Cup avidly.”

“Whenever I’ve got a chance, I’ll switch the television on and watch it. I think we’ll win it – I’ve got a good feeling. We have a new team with quite a few young players coming through the ranks.”

“It’s exciting times and interesting to see how they develop. A few of the older stars have moved on now.

“If Australia can win the World Cup, Villa can move steadily up the league and away from the relegation issues and I’ve played a few more games in the process too, it would be brilliant.”

“It would be the perfect scenario.”

Level with Iran and Saudi Arabia on three championships heading into the 2011 event, Alberto Zaccheroni’s side had a stunning volley from substitute Tadanari Lee deep into extra time to thank for the win after the game finished 0-0 after 90 minutes.

Australia entered the final with an unchanged line-up from the one that defeated Uzbekistan 6-0 in the semi-final, while Japan replaced injured midfielder Shinji Kagawa with Jungo Fujimoto, and defender Daiki Iwamasa made way for Maya Yoshida, who returned from suspension.

Australia settled first at Doha’s Khalifa Stadium, with a scuffed long-range effort from Harry Kewell forcing a save from Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima inside the first minute.

A minute later, Matt McKay had a golden chance to give the Socceroos the lead after a nice move but he blazed his shot wide from the edge of the box.

Japan almost took the lead after eight minutes in bizarre circumstances when Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer appeared to injure a knee trying to prevent a corner, although Keisuke Honda’s chip sailed over the unguarded goal in a let-off for the Australians.

Australia produced the best move of the half shortly afterwards, when a back heel by the industrious McKay freed up Brett Holman down the right flank but his dangerous cross eluded both Kewell and Tim Cahill in the middle.

After 18 minutes, Kawashima produced a crucial save to deny the Socceroos when David Carney’s outswinging corner found the head of Cahill and the Japanese ‘keeper made a great stop despite a slight deflection off the head of Kewell.

On 27 minutes, Luke Wilkshire picked out Kewell with a fine cross but the striker’s header was just over the bar.

The Australians went close again on the half-hour mark, when a Lucas Neill cross was nodded into the path of Kewell who could only fire his volley into the side netting.

Japan enjoyed their best attack of the game nine minutes before the break when Honda played a great ball inside the box to Yasuhito Endo, who laid the ball off to Ryoichi Maeda before the striker fired his shot over the bar.

Australia began the second half brightly and Kewell found himself free inside the box immediately after the restart but Japan captain Makoto Hasebe was on hand to block his effort.

Three minutes later Australia thought they had scored when Wilkshere’s floating cross came off the bar, took a deflection off Cahill and appeared to cross the line, although replays showed Maya Yoshida intercepted the ball just in time.

On 65 minutes, a precise cross from Yuto Nagatomo found Okazaki inside the box but the striker’s header was just inches wide of the upright with Schwarzer beaten.

Kawashima made a great save from Kewell moments later with an outstretched right boot, and with five minutes to play the Australian dispossessed Yasuyuki Kono and charged towards goal, but again the keeper averted the danger by charging of his line to perform the block.

With neither side able to break the deadlock, extra time was needed and the first period produced some of the most exciting football of the match.

With five minutes of the first period, Australian substitute Brett Emerton fired wide after a nice move from McKay and Kewell.

Kewell was then replaced by Robbie Kruse and the Melbourne Victory striker could have scored with his first touch when he was picked out by an excellent Emerton cross, but Kawashima pulled off an acrobatic save.

Japan then charged up the field on the counter and Keisuke Honda fired a left-foot shot just wide of Schwarzer’s post.

Japan took the lead four minutes into the second period when Nagamoto used his pace to get down the left flank and fired a pinpoint cross to an unmarked Lee inside the box.

The 25-year-old, in just his second international, lashed a superb first-time volley past Schwarzer, who did not have time to react, to send the Japanese bench into raptures.

Despite piling on the pressure in the final stages, Australia could not find an equaliser and were left to ponder what might have been while Japan can celebrate being crowned Asia’s premier footballing nation for a fourth time.

However, I bet there were a few goosebumps this week when his name cropped up in national football news. The former Wolves and Millwall right-back is at the centre of a disciplinary row after huge criticism arose following a challenge he made last week.

Muscat’s Melbourne Victory were playing Melbourne Heart, with the score tied at 2-2 with around 10 minutes to play. Heart’s young winger Adrian Zahra was storming forward in search of a later winner, until he came across Victory captain Muscat.

Muscat sprinted towards Zahra, lifted himself off the floor and lunged at Zahra’s right knee, nowhere near the ball at the winger’s feet. Zahra instantly fell to the ground in agony and Muscat was promptly dismissed by the referee.

The challenge has not only left Zahra out for the rest of the A-League season, but has left Muscat on the receiving end of worldwide news coverage. Muscat, who plans to hang up his boots at the end of the current campaign, could enter retirement earlier than anticipated as the A-League weigh up a six-match ban. It would almost be an apt end to a career that has been filled with controversy.

Muscat – the beginning

You might think, OK, so it was a bad challenge, give the guy a break (no pun intended). But, I’ve dug up some of the controversial moments of Muscat’s career that have been a little closer to home. Wingers, look away now.

Muscat was first spotted playing in Australia by Crystal Palace, who brought him to England in 1996. After a season at Selhurst Park, and a successful play-off campaign, he joined Wolves. This is where he started to pick up his infamous reputation.

During a match against Charlton in 1998, he injured Matty Holmes. The injury was so bad that there were fears he may have had his leg amputated. Although he did recover, he never played football properly again and had to retire early. In 2004, he was awarded substantial damages during a court case against Muscat.

Later that season, he injured Norwich winger Craig Bellamy, an injury which kept the Welshman out for two months. Muscat was heavily criticised by the media for the quality challenge.

Secret Scotsman?

In September 1999, Wolves drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest. However, after the game, Forest striker Ian Wright claimed that Muscat unfairly stopped him from scoring a goal – by impersonating a teammate. Wright was about to shoot, but claimed he heard his fellow striker Dougie Freedman tell him to leave it for him. Wright obliged by stepping over the ball, only for Muscat to be standing there and boot the ball away. Clearly Muscat can count a Scottish accent as one of his talents?

More controversy hit in 2001 during a friendly between Australia and France. Muscat slid in from behind and seriously fouled Dugarry. Then-France manager Roger Lemerre described the tackle as ‘an act of brutality’.

In 2002, Muscat moved North of the border to Rangers, to try his hand at SPL football. However, during his time here, he was never selected to play in an Old Firm match against Celtic. Why? Make your own conclusions.

A Welshman never forgets!

His time in Scotland lasted just a season and he moved back to England in 2003 and joined Millwall. In 2004, Muscat was back in the spotlight after grabbing the throat of striker Milan Baros during a League Cup clash between Liverpool and Millwall.

Later that season, during a match against Norwich, he clashed with Iwan Roberts. Roberts later admitted he tried to stamp on Muscat as revenge for the challenge Muscat had done on Craig Bellamy a few years previous.

Muscat’s career in England ended on a sad note when he missed the FA Cup final after suffering knee ligament damage. Shortly after, he joined A-League side Melbourne Victory in Australia.

Little over six months into his career here, he was the first A-League player in history to be called before a FIFA disciplinary panel. In 2006, he was also suspended for four games after a clash with an opposition manager.

To round this off, I thought I’d include a revelation that came to light recently. Villa winger Ashley Young was speaking of his debut for Watford in 2003 and happened to mention that Muscat had told him during the warm-up “Don’t go past me or I will break your legs”. However, by the time Young entered the pitch as a substitute, Muscat had been sent off. Young had the last laugh when he scored a last minute goal, a perfect way to mark a debut!

Uzbekistan face the Socceroos in the Asian Cup semi-finals on Tuesday evening, with the winner set to face either Japan or South Korea in the final of Asia’s premier football tournament.

Australia came within two minutes of a penalty shootout in Saturday’s quarter-final against Iraq before Harry Kewell nodded the Socceroos into the last four in the 118th minute.

But Nesterov has shrugged off suggestions he should be practising stopping penalties ahead of the game, insisting Uzbekistan will finish off their opponents well before then.

“No. We are not practising any penalties. I am confident that we can wrap it up within the allotted time,” the shot-stopper told the Asian Football Confederation’s official website.

“They are also humans like us. We are not afraid of anyone.”

The 27-year-old, who has conceded four goals in four games in the tournament so far, pinpointed accuracy at set-pieces as the key to Uzbekistan reaching the Asian Cup final, and added that he believes the Central Asian nation have the quality to take the title over Japan or South Korea.

“There is no doubt about it. We have to be very accurate (when it comes to set-pieces),” he said.

“And we have to keep ball possession. If we play our normal passing game it should be okay. We should not make silly mistakes.”

“There is a belief that we can win the title. The mood is very good and everybody is looking forward to the match.”

The defending champions booked their place in the knockout stages of Asia’s premier national soccer tournament with a largely lacklustre victory on Wednesday and will now face Australia in the last eight.

But they will need a much-improved performance if they are to beat Asia’s top-ranked side, having been pushed all the way by North Korea.

Sidka, however, said after the game that he was just happy to be through to the next round.

“If they were allowed to attack, sure they would have been able to get back into it but we imposed ourselves on the match,” he said.

“We kept the ball, especially in the first half, we had a lot of ball possession so we didn’t allow them to create opportunities.”

“It was always our plan that we would have more ball possession and not let them play.”

“The most important thing is that we are now playing Australia in the quarter-final. I think we deserve this victory, we played very well, especially in the first half.”

“I was very satisfied with the way we played. In the last 20 minutes, North Korea did everything to try and get back into the match so we lost a little bit of possession and control of the match but not too much.”

“In the end, 1-0, I think we deserve it. We are happy and we are looking forward to the quarter-final.”

North Korea went behind after Kerrar Jasim scored the game’s only goal on 22 minutes, and coach Jo Tong-Sop believes the early strike dented his side’s confidence.

“We conceded the goal too early in the first half. This disrupted our tactics,” Jo said.

“In the second half we improved and tried to make chances to score goals but we lost the match 1-0.”

“This was the last match and we didn’t get a good result. I think for the players, they had psychological problems and so were unable to read the match.”

“Tactically they didn’t do so well especially when the other team played long and medium-range passes. We didn’t react too quickly when we conceded the goal.”

The result means Iran finish as Group D winners on nine points and will next face a quarter-final against South Korea, who finished second to Australia in Group C.

The UAE needed a win to keep their quarter-final hopes alive but second-half goals from Arash Afshin and Mohammad Nori, along with an own goal from Walid Abbas handed Iran the three points.

Iran could have taken the lead at the Qatar Sports Club after just two minutes when the ball was whipped across goal from a free kick, but Farsheed Talebi fell just short of getting a touch.

Afshin’s pace was a constant threat to the UAE defence, and the 21-year-old had a good opportunity to break the deadlock after 30 minutes but could only fire his shot into the side netting.

The UAE’s Ismail Matar showed good strength to keep his feet and get a shot away just before half-time, but his effort rolled wide of the goal to ensure the scores remained level at the interval.

A reinvigorated Iran emerged in the second period, and the addition of Gholamreza Rezaei for captain Masoud Shojaei gave them an extra attacking dimension down the right hand side.

The group leaders set up camp in the UAE half for the first 20 minutes of the half, but like the UAE they struggled to carve clear chances in the final third.

On the hour mark, Ghasem Hadadifar produced the game’s best moment when he took a touch on the edge of the box to control a flick-on from a long throw, before his powerful drive forced a sharp save from UAE goalkeeper Majed Nasser.

Iran took a deserved lead 10 minutes later when Rezaei’s cross was met by Mohamad Gholami, who twice headed against the crossbar before Afshin tapped in the simplest of goals.

Moments later, Afshin was sent off by referee Kim Dong Jin for violent conduct, while UAE defender Khalid Sebil also received his marching orders in the 79th minute for a rash challenge on Hadadifar.

Iran made it 2-0 after 83 minutes when Nori found himself on the end of a great cut back from Khosro Heydari and fired a low shot past Nasser.

And the Iranians sealed the victory on 90 minutes when Rezaei took the ball past Nasser and into the path of UAE defender Walid Abbas, who shot into his own net to end a miserable night for his side.

The defending champions secured second spot in Group D with the win, but will need a much improved performance when they face Asia’s top ranked side, Australia, in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Kerrar Jasim’s 22nd minute strike was all that separated the two sides at the Al Rayyan Stadium, with Iraq needing to fend off a late North Korean rearguard to seal the three points.

Iraq went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock on 17 minutes when Samal Saeed’s goal-bound header was deflected onto the crossbar by team-mate Mustafa Kareem.

But Mustafa made amends just five minutes later by setting up Iraq’s opener.

The striker found the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed a powerful shot which North Korean goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk could only parry, allowing Kerrar Jasim the easiest of tap-ins from the rebound.

While Iraq were pushing forward in numbers, North Korea’s only avenue to goal looked to be striker Jong Tae-Se, who was playing a lone hand up forward.

Jong had his side’s two best chances of the half, first seeing his curling free kick well saved by Iraqi goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid before spurning a great opportunity when his heavy touch cut short a free run at goal.

Kareem was proving dangerous up front for Iraq and should have had a goal of his own on 36 minutes when Mahdi Kareem broke away down the left flank.

The winger delivered a precise cross into the area and Kareem got to the ball ahead of keeper Ri, only to misdirect his volley with an open goal to aim at.

Younus Mahmood found himself through on goal in the early stages of the second half after a sloppy North Korean pass, but a desperate challenge from Pak Nam-Chol blocked his shot.

North Korea were becoming more adventurous in the second half and Jong again went close after connecting with Jon Kwang-Ik’s cross on 62 minutes, but the striker could not get his header on target.

Despite having the lead Iraq were looking anything but dominant in the second period, and some lacklustre defending nearly let Ryang Yong-Gi sneak between the centre backs and poach a goal.

Iraq were holding on for dear life in the final 10 minutes and the Koreans were again unlucky not to find an equaliser when Hong Yong-Jo seized on Basem Abbas’ poor clearance and fired a volley from the edge of the area, with Ahmed Ibrahim’s deflection pushing the shot wide.