World Cup notes: FIFA suspends Ortega for three matches.

The Argentine playmaker became the first player to get a three-match ban since the start of the tournament.

Ortega was sent off in the 88th minute of the match in Marseille, two minutes before Dennis Bergkamp scored the last-gasp goal which gave the Netherlands a dramatic 2-1 win.

After having tried and failed to win a penalty with a dive in the Dutch box, Ortega saw Van der Sar tower over him in protest. The diminutive Argentine rose sharply, head-butted the Dutch keeper and was instantly shown the red card.

Before Ortega's sending off, Dutch defender Arthur Numan received his marching orders for a second yellow card. He will be suspended for one match.

German defender Christian Woerns, who was sent off in his side's 3-0 defeat by Croatia in Saturday's other quarter-final, received a two-match ban.

Woerns, who was shown the red card for a late tackle on Croatian striker Davor Suker in the 40th minute of the match in Lyon, described his sending off as "a joke."

German coach Berti Vogts said today he would stay on as Germany coach but intended to revamp his side for the 2000 European Championship qualifying competition which starts in October.

"Euro 2000 gives us a chance to bring in young players who may not be ranked by the press in a top Bundesliga eleven but who have potential," the 51-year-old said the day after Germany was knocked out of the World Cup by Croatia 3-0.

Saturday's defeat marked the first time Germany had been eliminated from successive World Cups at the quarterfinal stage. "The problem is not enough young players are given their chance in the Bundesliga," he said. "It can't be right when the national coaching staff has to drill youngsters in how to play one-on-ones."

Lothar Matthaus, Jurgen Klinsmann and Jurgen Kohler have already announced they would retire from international football but Vogts hinted some of the other senior players would not be capped again.

Germany's first qualifying match for Euro 2000 is against Turkey on October 10.

France has hardly been a gracious host when it comes to World Cup competition. FIFA rates the French the dirtiest side remaining in France ’98, now that Argentina was sent packing by the Netherlands.

FIFA's statistics reveal that Argentina committed more fouls (97 in five matches) than any other team in France 98 but also won more free kicks. France has 95, tied with Germany which was eliminated yesterday by Croatia.

Argentina was awarded 107 free kicks, 33 of them taken by Ariel Ortega who finished his World Cup by getting sent off for butting Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar two minutes from the end of their quarterfinal yesterday.

Brazil was the next most sinned-against team. It was fouled 89 times in their five matches while France got 88 free kicks.

The record for the four semi-finalists is:

France: 95 fouls committed, 88 fouls suffered.
Croatia: 87 - 78.
Brazil: 70 - 89.
Holland: 86 - 77.

Brazil is the highest scoring nation with 13 goals in five games from 31 shots or headers on target. The Netherlands’ 11 goals come from 53 efforts on target while France's 10 goals come from 68 attempts on goal, although the French have had more shots all told than anyone else -- 129.

Croatia is sixth on the list with eight goals from 34 shots on target.

In little more than a year, Brazil's Ze Carlos has gone from selling watermelons to playing in a World Cup semifinal. Brazil's reserve right back is due to make his international debut in Tuesday's semifinal against the Netherlands at the age of 30, replacing the suspended Cafu, coach Mario Zagalo said today.

This time last year, he was playing in the decisive stages of another competition -- the second division of the Paulista championship, a regional tournament in Brazil. Until the middle of last year, the cheapest player in Brazil's squad had not enjoyed the experience of playing for a major club, having spent all of his career with little-known provincial teams.

Although these clubs are in theory professional, wages are so low that many players supplement their income with other work. Ze Carlos alternated working on a stall in a market, where he sold watermelons, and another job as a car mechanic.

"I'm privileged," he said. "God accompanies me and illuminates my steps. I've nothing to complain about."

England coach Glenn Hoddle is not ready to discuss a new contract with the English Football Association (FA) taking him to the 2002 World Cup.

FA chairman Keith Wiseman has offered talks with Hoddle on extending his contract, which ends after the European Championship in two years.

But Hoddle told the Sunday Mail in London: "The next World Cup is too far ahead for me to consider at the moment. There is a lot of water to pass under the bridge before then. I want to keep my options open. Both the FA and myself are aware that my contract runs until Euro 2000. I don't see any reason for them or me to change the situation. If the agreement was coming to an end then it would be different."

Hoddle will now turn his attention to the European Championship, where qualification begins in September.

England coach Glenn Hoddle is not ready to discuss a new contract with the English Football Association (FA) taking him to the 2002 World Cup.

FA chairman Keith Wiseman has offered talks with Hoddle on extending his contract, which ends after the European Championship in two years. But Hoddle has said: "The next World Cup is too far ahead for me to consider at the moment. There is a lot of water to pass under the bridge before then. I want to keep my options open. Both the FA and myself are aware that my contract runs until Euro 2000.

"I don't see any reason for them or me to change the situation. If the agreement was coming to an end then it would be different," he told the Daily Mail on Sunday.

Hoddle, who was convinced England could win the World Cup before it went out to Argentina on a penalty shootout in the second round, will now turn his attention to the European Championship, where qualification begins in September.

The Netherlands’ Cup hopes were dealt a severe blow today when defender Winston Bogarde was carried from training with a broken leg.

"It's a terrible disappointment for him personally and for the team after the euphoria of yesterday," coach Guus Hiddink said.

"The Dutch camp confirmed that Bogarde had fractured his right fibula," Hiddink said. "It is very serious. He is now in hospital in Monaco and we have to see if he will be operated on in Amsterdam or if a surgeon will be flown here."

His injury is not just a personal setback for a player in his first World Cup. It leaves Hiddink with a problem. Bogarde had not played a part in the tournament but is the reserve left back and seemed certain to start Tuesday's semifinal against Brazil after incumbent Arthur Numan was sent off in the quarter-final. Numan was automatically suspended for one match.

There is no obvious alternative. Captain Frank de Boer has played on the left many times for his club although he prefers playing in the center. With Brazil's Ronaldo to contend with, Hiddink is also likely to prefer him in the middle partnering Jaap Stam.