3 September ~ On July 14, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) issued a press release stating that the two initial World Cup objectives (qualification for the tournament and qualification for the knock-out phase) had been achieved and thanking everyone involved. While it was obvious to all in Portugal that performances in South Africa had been disappointingly pale, the FPF seemed happy enough, and coach Carlos Queiroz saw his bank balance jump by €720,000 (£600,000) in bonuses.

2 September ~ The sole Belgian fan who travelled to support his team in Armenia last September was both mocked and pitied in his home country. However, many of the roughly 1,000 Scotland fans who recently paid £50 to join or renew their membership of the Scotland Supporters Club only to be denied a ticket for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifier in Lithuania may regard him with envy.

We've just updated our Free Stuff section. Visit now for your chance to win Early Bath soap in the colours of your team, a book on "the crazy world of the football manager" or a collection of 13 top players' favourite recipes – including Ruud van Nistelrooy's salmon with cloves, Kenny Miller's fruit salad and Steven Gerrard's crunchy sea bream.

1 September ~ It's been a surreal few days in which to support Sunderland. On Sunday morning a friend of mine jogged through the Manchester City squad as they took a morning constitution along Seaburn seafront. As Carlos Tevez made an incredible open goal miss at the Stadium of Light a few hours later my friend was claiming to have "got inside the head" of the Man City forward with a thumbs up gesture on the promenade. Tevez's mistake was the game's turning point and Sunderland went on to deservedly win 1-0 over a £270 million starting line-up. Then, yesterday evening, my club made the most expensive signing of the transfer deadline day with a fee only beaten by Man City and Chelsea this summer. It just all seems so out of character.

1 September ~ Japan's upcoming friendlies with Paraguay and Guatemala were supposed to provide the new coach of the national team with a first look at the players at his disposal. Unfortunately, despite having had the best part of two months to replace Takeshi Okada, Alberto Zaccheroni – who was officially announced as the new boss on Monday night – was not hired in time to do this. Consequently, Hiromi Hara – the JFA's technical director who had been charged with finding Okada's successor – will be in the dugout. When asked about the slightly embarrassing situation Hara merely stated: "It would have been good to have the new coach in place but unfortunately it hasn't worked out like that."

1 September ~ The former Argentina forward Francisco Varallo died on Monday. In WSC 278, Cris Freddi looked at a select group of international centurions

Francisco Varallo, who turned 100 in February, is the last survivor from the first World Cup. He played in the final. He shouldn't have done. He hadn't recovered from the injury that kept him out of the semi. But he didn't want to miss the big game, so he told porkies about his fitness. Then he broke down in the second half and Argentina lost 4-2 to Uruguay after leading 2-1 at half time. Varallo captained Argentina when they won the 1937 Copa América before a knee injury ended his career.

31 August ~ "I see you've gone and changed your name again," Leonard Cohen once sang of the Football League Trophy in his classic So Long Sherpa Van. But like a flea-infested stray cat with sarcoptic mange and stinking of its own piss that's decided it really likes your back garden and, what's more, it's going to stay no matter how often you train the hose pipe on its scabby tail, the competition is still with us, being ignored by fans all across the English lower divisions.

31 August ~ Startlingly garish, this badge hits you right between the eyes and just keeps on hitting. If the Co-op custard yellow wasn't enough to turn your stomach, the combination of this with royal blue and white might just tip you towards the bathroom. And then there is the trigger-happy use of lines and shapes: arcs, triangles, circles, crosses, stars – it is as if the designer found an old Spirograph set after drinking a whole bottle of Ouzo and then coloured it all in in just the right combination to enable him to throw up and start drinking again. Read more