A COLLEAGUE returned from the United States at the weekend to reveal that the country's achievement in reaching the last eight of the World Cup had been as well reported as the fact that Latvia won the Eurovision Song Contest.

Rovers' Brad Friedel may have been one of the best keepers in the tournament but in the States he might as well be the star of "The Invisible Man" such was the apparent lack of interest.

One man who might wish he had been invisible at the weekend is Turkey's skipper and striker Hakan Sukur. Mind you, there is every chance that neither of those titles will apply to the hapless hitman when Turkey take on Brazil for the second time in the World Cup semi-final tomorrow.

Had his replacement not netted the golden goal winner against Senegal Sukur could have found himself dumped in the Bosphorous from a great height on the team's return to Turkey.

For comedic value his display was hard to beat, not least the incident in the first half when all he had to do was trap the ball and then pass it into an almost empty net. For a very brief moment my hangover, both physical and metaphorical, was forgotten.

Mind you it was Sukur who played as if he had taken on board a few too many pints the previous day. Quite how he managed to stay on the pitch as long as he did I have got no idea.

He has been Turkey's star player for the past decade, a big striker who is plying his trade in Italy for the second time. He is currently playing for Parma having been released by Inter Milan but on current form he should not be too worried about rushing back for pre-season training given his ham-fisted efforts in the World Cup.

Five games, no goals and he does not look as if he has any in the locker. He cut a very forlorn figure as he trooped off against Senegal and if he starts against Brazil I will be astonished.

As his side was preparing for extra time, was the captain winding them up with passionate words of encouragement? Was he hugging everyone, telling them they could do it?

Was he heck! He kept himself to himself and was left to reflect that the team had surpassed all expectations in spite of, rather than because of, him.

His behaviour is in stark contrast to the rest of the Turkish squad. They have worked hard as a unit and it is that team spirit that may yet see them provide the biggest shock of all in this tournament of surprises - beating Brazil and avenging their narrow 2-1 defeat in their group clash.