1.   Howard joked this week that he had taken his life in his hands by backing the defending side.

2.   But Blatter admitted it will take time to change attitudes of a lifetime, the benefit in the past having been given to the defending side.

3.   Yet France failed to score a single goal in their three matches, the first defending side ever to be knocked out without hitting the back of the net.

4.   The defending side cannot move until the corner is taken.