Ugly Footballers
This site covers the World Cup in a unique way: You'll find segments like 'All Time World Cup XI' and the 'All Time England XI'.

Unlike many such lists that are based on player prowess and results, these are completely based on looks - Ugly looks. 'Be prepared,' the site warns, 'It's not a pretty sight!' To make their list, they scour for footballers 'from the early years of Socrates to the latest talents of Ronaldo'. And about their selection, they say, 'It wasn't easy to narrow them down'.

In their search for ugliness, they do not confine themselves to players, but also have sections on fans - 'They say that behind every ugly player is an equally ugly fan. We think they were right.' Other features include 'Beauty and the Beast' that shows pictures of 'ugly' players alongside their stunningly beautiful wives; and 'Liability or Asset' that explores whether the wives of popular players have had a positive or negative influence on their game.

Not the World Cup
Disclaimer: You are in danger of wetting your trousers, shorts, skirt or dress.
Having read that, you can navigate through spoofs like Hot dogs Korean style; funny caption competitions; and a game called Cliche Bingo.

There's also a wacky guide to the World Cup finalists, and historical details of the competition - all 'unofficial' of course!

The Strange Soccer Story Collection
Not necessarily about the World Cup, but about unusual occurrences at football games. Read about the upside-down goalie streaker who was thrown back into the crowd by a policemen; and a girl who was so absorbed during her match, that she didn't realise her shorts had been pulled down by a fellow player until she scored a goal and then tripped over her own shorts. No pictures, though!

Save Chip...Don't Let Sarah Win!
Chip's crime: His passion for football and the desire to watch his side play.
Sarah's (Chip's girlfriend) stand: Doesn't like football and refuses to allow Chip to participate in it.
What do you think Chip should do? Break up with Sarah, try to reason with her, or bow to her will? Log on to the forum and give him your pearls of wisdom. Many already have: "Dump her, if she don't like it she can lump it. Get on that bus and go to the footy," says Jenna, echoing most other messages.

RoboCup
This is an international venture to promote robotics and artificial intelligence. They aim to develop a 'team of fully autonomous humanoid robots that can win against the human world champion team in soccer', by the year 2050.

If successful, the robots could be put to use in search and rescue operations.

In the meanwhile, you can check out the Soccer Simulation Server used by the RoboCup competition. Also interesting is the photo gallery that shows various robot leagues in action.

FootballJokes
A storehouse of soccer humour, the site features limericks, quotes, songs/chants and much more. There are also hilarious anagrams - did you know George Best can be rearranged to form 'Go get beers'? Or that Alex Ferguson could spell 'Sex organ fuel'? Find out more...

SportCartoons
This site exhibits caricatures of football players from many English clubs and some national teams. Check out David Beckham, Alex Ferguson, Fabien Barthez, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron.

Football Poets
The World Cup has inspired verse. Read up on poems composed on this theme. This one, for instance, makes fun of Irish captain Roy Keane who was sent back home after certain after a flare-up with the national coach.

The Soccer Sucks page
A Web site 'dedicated to the battle against soccer's destruction of the world' enumerates various reasons why we should hate the game. Some of these include a woman who reportedly died due to soccer, and a man who broke a finger. The site also offers some anti-soccer logos.

All The Pies
An e-zine that takes a satirical look at various events connected with football. It's focused on Britain, and includes a spoof on the scare caused by Beckham's injuries.

If you are still unsatisfied, get a regular dose of all the real quirky and unusual happenings at Japan and Korea on this BBC page.

Also Read
 -- Best of the Web: Soccer World Cup, 2002