Prison guards at Guantanamo Bay revealed new details about life inside the US camp for terrorist suspects, when it was announced a group of prisoners had been allowed to watch World Cup matches. Apparently, the viewing was arranged as a reward for good behavior. In mid-May, riots broke out at high-security prison. Some 40 captives, from Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, decided to hide behind closed doors instead of taking part in the violence. While their rioting co-prisoners were despatched to maximum security solitary confinement, the others were given a pat on the back and license to watch Saudi Arabia play in the World Cup.

"We videotaped the games and took out the commercials, all the games Saudi Arabia played in," Lt. Col. Mike Nicolucci told Reuters. He didn't elaborate on whether the prisoners were allowed to cheer, exchange comments about the general play or celebrate a goal. Nor did he explain as to why the commercials were edited out. Perhaps they might offend Muslim sensibilities? Americans who want to skip the ad breaks have to go out and buy TiVo. In Gitmo it seems, the guards do it for you.

Sadly for the prisoners, Saudi Arabia was knocked out of the tournament in the group stages, after heavy defeats against Spain and Ukraine and managing only a draw against Tunisia. They could though take comfort in the knowledge that Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaida's spiritual leader, is also a football fan  and might well have been watching the games as well.

But, perhaps the Gitmo guards are having the last laugh and allowing the prisoners to watch a few games is all part of an elaborate propaganda war. After all, isn't the World Cup just a convenient way to divert militant Muslims from jihad? AFP reported last week that a militant Islamic cell had posted a video on the Internet entitled, "The Mujahedeen's World Cup". The 35-minute film created by the Global Islamic Media Center featured colorful sequences such as the "Zionist and Crusader Hate Cup," the "Submissiveness and Humiliation Cup" and the "Glory and Pride Cup." Instead of Ronaldo's goals, militant web surfers were treated to shots of Abu Ghraib, 9-11 and -- you guessed it -- Guantanamo Bay. The introduction to the video proclaimed, "At a time when pro-Zionist Arab media are busy broadcasting the World Cup to divert Muslims away from their religion and from jihad... we offer you the three other cups which those media are trying to hide from our nation." Muslims who watch the World Cup will lose their resolve to fight the infidel, GIMC believes.

-- Heike Westendorf, 3:30 p.m. CET

Archery Lessons for German Team

Jürgen Klinsmann's wacky training methods raised a few eyebrows yet again yesterday when the German team were given a very peculiar kind of target practice. Klinsmann brought in the national archery squad coach to give the players a quick lesson in how to use a bow and arrow in preparation for their crunch quarterfinal match against Argentina. The German players looked a tad bemused as they let off a quiver of arrows in front of a puzzled media pack. Wednesday was officially a rest day for the players but unlike the England players, who are allowed to lounge by the pool with their WAGS, the Germans have to keep their focus.

"It's an example of a sport where you need 100 percent concentration," assistant coach Joachim Löw told reporters. Apparently, star striker Lucas Podolski was among the sharpest shooters in the German squad, which should give comfort to German fans ahead of Friday's game.

It's the latest in a series of curious training methods employed by Klinsmann and his staff since he took over the job. Fitness expert Mark Verstegen regularly has the players doing strange things with elastic cords, fooling around with medicine balls and standing on vibrating platforms. Klinsmann is also fond of motivational day trips and the German players can feel they got off lightly yesterday. On a recent training camp in Geneva, the players were frogmarched to a watchmakers where they learnt how to build a timepiece. Before the visit, national team manger Oliver Bierhoff was heard to comment, "They'll learn how to take a watch apart and put it back together again. It's something a bit different…It must be a great feeling when you get all the bits back together and you hear it ticking." Quite.

Still, the reaction in the German newspapers today was muted. Prior to the World Cup, when Germany lost a series of friendlies, including a 4-1 defeat to Italy, Klinsmann's "American" training methods were blamed for the team's poor performance. Members of the German parliament even called for the coach to come before a sports committee and explain his fitness fanaticism. Now the tables have turned. The fitness of his players has been a key factor in the team's excellent performance in the World Cup so far, so perhaps we shouldn't mock. If Germany wins against Argentina tomorrow, it will be Klinsmann who has scored the bullseye.