Kim Kardashian asks avatar creators to plump up her famous derrière

For most Hollywood stars, it's a case of the slimmer the better - but not for Kim Kardashian.

In fact, the reality TV star is so proud of her curvaceous figure that she was happy for creators of a phone app avatar to make her famous derrière even more plump.

The 29-year-old was involved with the design of her own iPhone application, which includes her advice on relationships, beauty, health and fashion.

Kardashian
kardashian

Rear view: Kim Kardashian was keen for her phone app avatar to look very curvy

The animated image see her dressed in a figure hugging purple dress and towering heels.

A source tells America's Us magazine: 'Kim approved all of it.

'She asked them to revise her avatar three or four times because it didn't look right to her. She went with the biggest butt of all the options.'

The application, which fans pay to download on iTunes, was released earlier this year to promote her new self-titled perfume.

Kardashian

Keeping up with Kim: The reality TV star uses the application to give advice on relationships, beauty, health and fashion

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Ageless Passion: Burton's Love Letters to Liz Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Hollywood's original It couple, had a romance more tumultuous than that of any big-screen drama. They married each other twice and divorced each other twice, perhaps owing to her epic tantrums and his problems with alcoholism. But as newly released love letters from Burton to Taylor attest, despite 20 years of hair-pulling and name-calling, he loved her until the very end of his life.

"I am forever punished by the gods for being given the fire and trying to put it out," the actor wrote in 1973, around the time of their first separation. "The fire, of course, is you." In another letter, written after one of their splits, Burton admits that he hasn't been the perfect husband but suggests that love should triumph over their differences: "You must know, of course, how much I love you. You must know, of course, how badly I treat you. But the fundamental and most vicious, swinish, murderous, and unchangeable fact is that we totally misunderstand each other ... we operate on alien wavelengths ... I love you and I always will. Come back to me as soon as you can."(See Elizabeth Taylor's wedding photos.)

Excerpts from the letters will be published for the first time in Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century by authors Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger. "When I first read the letters, tears came to my eyes because they were so moving," Schoenberger says. "I just knew that I was in the presence of a deep and abiding passion." Taylor, 78, agreed to share the letters in a bid to keep Burton's memory alive. In an age of instant celebrity and reality-TV stars, it's easy to forget the great actors and talents of the past. And it's even easier to forget their very human qualities. "Richard was magnificent in every sense of the word," Taylor says in the book, which comes out June 15. "He was the kindest, funniest and most gentle father. All my kids worshipped him."

The couple, who met in Rome while filming the 1962 film Cleopatra, were both married when they launched into a torrid affair. The paparazzi pounced almost immediately, and the Vatican released a statement condemning their adultery. But even disapproval from the Pope couldn't stand in the way of their love, and Burton's letters frequently drip with passion. "If you leave me, I shall have to kill myself. There is no life without you," he wrote in one. Taylor, at times, turned Burton into a philosopher. "One of these days I will wake up — which I think I have done already — and realize to myself that I really do love," he wrote. "Who invented that concept? I have wracked my shabby brain and can find no answer."(See the top 10 perpetual divorcĂ©s.)

And when he wasn't getting deep, Burton was making cute, addressing Taylor as "Dearest Scrupelshrumpilstilskin" and "Twit Twaddle etc." In a more rueful letter written after they had agreed to separate, he calls her "My Lumps." But the love went both ways, and in sharing one of the letters she wrote to Burton after the couple remarried in 1975, Taylor reveals just how sure (and wrong) she was that they belonged together: "Dearest Hubs, How about that! You really are my husband again, and I have news for thee, there bloody will be no more marriages — or divorces, either. Yours truly, Wife."

The letters weren't only about romance found and lost. In one, Burton admits that he was making movies because of his "desire for money," not a love of the craft. "I have never quite got over the fact that I thought, and I'm afraid I still do think, that 'acting' for a man — a really proper man — is sissified and faintly ridiculous." He praises Taylor — a two-time Academy Award winner — for her passion for acting and skill. "You are probably the best actress in the world, which, combined with your extraordinary beauty, makes you unique," one of his letters says. "When, as an actress, you want to be funny, you are funnier than W.C. Fields; when, as an actress, you are meant to be tragic, you are tragic."

Burton died of a brain hemorrhage in Switzerland in 1984. Days before his death, he penned Taylor a final letter. It arrived at her home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles shortly after she had returned from his memorial service. Now confined to a wheelchair, Taylor keeps it in her bedside drawer. It's the only letter she is keeping private. But she claims that in it, Burton, 58 when he died, asked if they could give their relationship another chance. "Attentive, loving — that was Richard," Taylor says in Furious Love. "From those first moments in Rome we were always madly and powerfully in love. We had more time but not enough."(See pictures of Oscar's leading ladies.)

And that pain may explain the ongoing intrigue surrounding their romance. "Love in opposition always has a hold on people's imaginations, the idea of star-crossed lovers meant to be together but who encounter difficulties," Kashner, one of the book's authors, says. "The Burton-Taylor love story was a great opera in a way." With the release of their plaintive, passionate letters, cinema's epic lovebirds can finally have their encore.

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Hollywood takes leave of reality

The fourth Shrek movie trounced Sex and the City 2 at the US box office. The future looks digital, says Marc Lee

Cameron Diaz striking in red at the premiere of
Cameron Diaz striking in red at the premiere of "Shrek Forever After" in Los Angeles Photo: REUTERS/Phil McCarten

Ever since the movies first embraced computer-generated imagery (CGI) – whenTron (1982) was at the cutting edge of technology – it seemed inevitable that the future would be digital. As the limits on what was it was possible to create visually were swept away, CGI promised so much. And, in many ways, it has delivered.

From the mid-Nineties, the Pixar studio (Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Up etc) has been leading the way with films that look terrific and, crucially, also feature engaging stories with multi-generational appeal. Last year, the technology reached what was hailed as its zenith with James Cameron’s all-conqueringAvatar.

The one drawback, however, is that, for all its wonderfulness, CGI is useless in one major respect – it still can’t convincingly recreate flesh-and-blood human beings. Blue-skinned aliens – yes; fish, toys, racing cars – yes, yes and yes. But “real” people always end up looking like cartoons. Up (2009), Pixar’s best release to date, is delightful, but the grouchy old man and his boy-scout friend look no more human than Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear.

That said, box-office takings on America’s key Memorial Day weekend suggest that CGI is the future of the movies.

The big release, Sex and the City 2, was kept off the top spot by the grumpy green CGI ogre of Shrek Forever After, which, on its second week of release, grossed $12 million more than Carrie and co’s dalliance in the desert.

Of course, SATC2 has been getting terrible reviews, but look further down the list of America’s top-grossing titles and you’ll find a lot of gleaming CGI.

In the No 3 slot there’s Prince of Persia, which was developed from a video game, and at No 4 it’s Iron Man 2, which is crammed with special digital effects.

Still in the top 10 after 10 weeks is the magical – and all-digital – How to Train Your Dragon, while a couple of places below comes Tim Burton’s computer-enhanced Alice in Wonderland – more than three months after its release.

And what is the future release that everyone everywhere is getting very excited about? The return of Woody and his playroom pals in Toy Story 3, which is out in the US in a couple of weeks and over here on July 21.

It is almost certain to be the biggest box-office hit of the year. But then it does have a former James Bond (Timothy Dalton) in the role of Mr Pricklepants the hedgehog...

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The unlikely Bollywood jodis

The glamorous and the intense, the star and the actor, the reigning heartthrob and the quiet performer... filmmakers are trying out unusual pairings in the belief that opposites will attract. Sample Akshay Kumar-Chitrangda Singh, Irrfan Khan-Priyanka Chopra or Abhay Deol-Sonam Kapoor.

Thanks to experimental scripts with offbeat themes – and adventurous filmmakers – these unconventional pairs will soon be seen on the big screen.

The unlikely Bollywood jodis

While Chitrangda of Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi fame has been paired up with successful star Akshay in Rohit Dhawan's Desi Boys, offbeat actor Irrfan and Bollywood's glamour girl Priyanka will be seen together in Vishal Bhardwaj's Saat Khoon Maaf.

Abhay, known for his many experiments with unconventional cinema, will rub shoulders with Sonam inAisha. The young actress has done commercial movies like Saawariya and Delhi-6 and her next is I Hate Luv Storys.

Another unusual pair soon to grace the silver screen will be Ajay Devgan and Kangana Ranaut in Ekta Kapoor's forthcoming underworld drama Once Upon a Time In Mumbaai.

According to film critic Omar Qureshi, directors are opting for such unusual pairings due to a lack of big ticket stars in the Hindi film industry.

"There are a handful of big stars and many a time directors run out of stars because of their busy schedules. These days scripts give directors the freedom to experiment and give a fresh look to the story," Qureshi said.

"Now people are looking for performances in films. Star value is not the only unique selling proposition of the movie, unlike earlier when we mostly saw fixed pairings of Dharmendra with Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan with Jaya Bachchan."

Last year, when National Award-winning actress Konkona Sen Sharma was paired with Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor in Wake Up Sid, critics were sceptical. But the fears were unfounded as the crackling chemistry between the lead pair struck an instant chord with audiences.

"Konkona was the perfect match for that role. The role demanded someone who did not look like a typical teen but someone who is mature, unlike the slacker played by Ranbir," said film critic Anupama Chopra.

Before Wake Up Sid, Konkona had teamed up with Saif Ali Khan in Vishal Bhardwaj's critically acclaimedOmkara.

Recently, Konkona was paired opposite Ajay Devgan in Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? a comedy directed by Ashwani Dheer. The movie fared well at the box office and the pair was well accepted by viewers.

Filmmakers have tried the "mix and match" pin earlier as well, though not always with commercial success.

In Main Meri Patni Aur Woh, director Chandan Arora brought together popular Bengali actress Rituparna Sengupta and Rajpal Yadav.

Despite the fact that they defied typical norms of filmy couples, the film was hugely appreciated by critics and people liked watching them in this simple family drama set in a small town that turned out to be a moderate success.

Irrfan's pairing opposite Lara Dutta in Billu and with Juhi Chawla in Krazzy 4 were, however, rejected by audiences. But his chemistry with Tabu in Mira Nair's The Namesake was applauded.

"There is a dearth of good and saleable stars in the Hindi film industry, which produces more than 200 films in a year. When it comes to casting, the choice usually boils down to four Khans (Shah Rukh, Salman, Aamir and Saif), Hrithik (Roshan) and Abhishek (Bachchan) and the topmost four heroines (Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai)," said Chopra.

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Supermodel Nargis to debut in Bollywood

Supermodel Nargis to debut in Bollywood
After introducing Brazilian supermodel Giselle Monteiro in Love Aaj Kal, director Imtiaz Ali is all set to launch a New York based half Pakistani, half Czech supermodel Nargis Fakhri in his upcoming movie Rockstar.

The 21-year-old Nargis, who has also featured in the 2009 Kingfisher Calendar has been cast opposite Ranbir Kapoor in the movie. According to rumours, Nargis will be playing a dancer in Rockstar. (Photo: Kingfisher Calendar)

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Lions walk past Big B in Gir

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a pride of lions in Gir sanctuary, where he is shooting for a campaign to promote Gujarat tourism.

"A 5 a.m. call and what a call...into the forest and within a few hours, a miracle, eight to nine of them, an entire pride of lions! Unbelievable," an excited Amitabh, who has been appointed brand ambassador of the state, posted on his Twitter page.

"The lions walked past me... just five feet away! Amazing! Male, female and cubs, walked straight up to me, looked and went by."

Amitabh has been exploring Gujarat for some time and can't stop raving about the culture and beauty of India.

"What a magnificent country we own. And it is only when you visit these places yourself do you realise that it's not just the greatness of the domain that makes this land so wonderful and blessed, it is the man on the street, the commoner that gives this nation its strength and its glory," he posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.

He will now head to the Somnath Temple to shoot for the campaign.

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Can Farah Khan give a blockbuster without her best buddy Shahrukh Khan?

The chorographer turned director Farah Khan and the king of Bollywood, actor Shah Rukh Khan have been close buddies since ages. The two met during the shoot of Shah Rukh’s film ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa’ in the early nineties and have bonded very well since then.

In fact they were such good friends that both of Farah’s directorial ventures – ‘Mein Hoon Na’ and ‘Om Shanti Om’, had King Khan play the lead role and his wife Gauri as the film’s producers. Both the movies were commercial successes.

Recently however the relationship between Shah Rukh and Farah seems to have got strained and the two aren’t really on friendly terms with each other. The reason being cited is that Shah Rukh wasn’t giving Farah time for her third film ‘Happy New Year’, as he wasn’t too happy with its script and so Farah went a step ahead a broke an unspoken rule- she has cast another Bollywood biggie-Akshay Kumar to play the male lead of her upcoming film ‘Tees Maar Khan”, instead of SRK.

In a recent reality dance show Farah who appears with SRK’s arch rival Salman Khan, seemed to bond with him very well and has even assured him that he would play the lead role in the sequels to both her hit films ‘Main Hoon Na’ and ‘Om Shanti Om’. This has seemed to further widen the gap between the once good friends Farah and SRK.

Akshay Kumar is currently one of the highest paid actors of Bollywood and his movies generally perform well at the box office. Well now what needs to be seen is can Farah still give a hit without SRK and can Akshay ensure a blockbuster for Farah and give her a hat- trick of 3 successful films in one go?

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Bollywood stars, Sri Lankan cricketers to play cricket match to help former child soldiers

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Stars of Indian cinema and Sri Lankan cricketers will play a celebrity cricket match on Friday to raise funds for reintegrating former child soldiers into their communities.

Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan and Sunil Shetty are set for a celebrity cricket match involving Kumar Sangakkara's Sri Lankan lineup that will be one of the key features of the International Indian Film Awards scheduled to be held this weekend in Colombo.

Part of the proceeds from the match will be donated to "Cricket for Children," an initiative of the Sri Lanka Cricket authority and UNICEF, the U.N. Children's Fund.

Earlier this year, former child soldiers and other vulnerable children were trained as cricket peer leaders as part of a partnership between the International Cricket Council, Sri Lanka Cricket and UNICEF.

SLC and UNICEF are now supporting the peer leaders to organize cricket games among youth in their communities of origin.

Actor Vivek Oberoi told reporters Wednesday that he was delighted to join an initiative aimed at supporting war-affected children.

He explained that he has been "working a lot for children" throughout his life and stressed that it is imperative to "rehabilitate and heal" children caught in armed conflicts.

However, some film artists and directors have protested against Bollywood stars slated to participate in the IIFA, citing alleged killings by Sri Lankan forces of ethnic Tamil civilians in the final stages of the island's civil war.

Sri Lankan armed forces last year defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels, who were accused of forcibly recruiting child soldiers to fight for a separate homeland for minority Tamils.

The protesters are from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where residents have family and cultural links with Sri Lanka's Tamils.

Oberoi brushed off protests, saying, "I don't believe in building wars. Building wars divides the world further. We must build bridges for love and peace."

Among stars to play cricket are Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta, Kareena Kapoor, Shipa Shetty, Lara Dutta, Ajay Jadeja, Irfan Khan.

Sangakkara said cricket could be used as a force for change, bringing hope and healing to vulnerable children. Sri Lanka test cricket stars Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan will also play in the match.

Sri Lanka hopes the event, with an estimated 600 million viewers in India and televised in 110 countries, will promote the island as an attractive tourist destination. The IIFA weekend also includes a business forum and fashion show.

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Police find missing woman remains

Shelley ArmitageShelley Armitage had been missing for a month

Human remains found in the River Aire in Shipley are those of missing woman Shelley Armitage, West Yorkshire Police have said.

Extensive forensic tests on "a small piece of human tissue" showed it to belong to the 31-year-old sex worker.

Officers said her family have been informed.

Stephen Griffiths, 40, who described himself as "the crossbow cannibal", has been charged with the murder of Ms Armitage along with two other women.

Ms Armitage, who disappeared a month ago and was known to have drink and drug problems, was "a much-loved daughter and sister", detectives said.

Ongoing forensic tests

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "Further exhaustive forensic tests carried out on a small piece of human tissue recovered from the River Aire over the weekend have confirmed that it is that of Shelley Armitage.

"Shelley's family have been informed.

"Searches are continuing, as are ongoing forensic tests. This includes work on the black holdall and contents recovered at the weekend."

Other remains found at the weekend were dismissed on Monday after testing confirmed they were from an animal.

A large black suitcase pulled from the river on Saturday was found to contain tools which are currentlybeing examined.

Body parts found in the river on May 25 were later found to be those of 36-year-old Suzanne Blamires. The body of Susan Rushworth, 42, has not yet been found. She went missing a year ago.

Griffiths is due to appear at Bradford Crown Court via video link from Wakefield Prison on Monday.

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Ten shocking World Cup moments





London, England (CNN) -- Every four years, the World Cup produces a smorgasbord of stunning football, great goals and controversial moments that will be remembered for a long time to come.

Here CNN Sport takes a closer look at some of the more contentious incidents from the past 18 stagings of soccer's premier tournament -- events that sparked widespread debate.

We have selected 10 that we believe not only gripped the world of football, but sent shockwaves around the globe as well -- but do you agree with our list?

10. Bobby Moore, 1970

Four years earlier, Moore had captained England to their first -- and so far only -- World Cup triumph. Although not tournament favorites, Alf Ramsey's side were still expected to be one of the front-runners in Mexico.

However, their preparations blew up in their faces when Moore was arrested for allegedly stealing a bracelet from a hotel in Bogota, Colombia, where England were playing a warm-up match.

Blog: The World Cup's missing men

Despite the claims, Moore was allowed to travel with the squad. But, upon returning to Colombian soil on the way to Mexico, he was subsequently placed under house arrest for four days.

Eventually, with no evidence against him, the defender was released, but not before the incident had caused a massive diplomatic row.

9. Brazil v Sweden, 1978

Compared to the great teams of their past, Brazil were in transition -- but they certainly did not have luck on their side in Argentina.

The South Americans ended up finishing third, having remained unbeaten in all of their six matches, but what happened in this opening game should have alerted them that 1978 was not to be their year.

Welsh referee Clive Thomas had the nickname "The Book" because he was a stickler for the rules, and Brazil felt the full force of his fussy nature.

With the match deep in injury-time, and the scoreline at 1-1, Brazil were awarded a corner. The delivery was perfect and Zico was on hand to head home and give Brazil a last-gasp victory.

However, in the two seconds between the corner being taken and Zico scoring, Thomas had blown his whistle for full-time. The goal was chalked off and the perplexed Brazilians raged at Thomas all the way to the changing rooms.

8. Harald Schumacher, 1982

Germany and France were level at 1-1 after an hour of a cracking World Cup semifinal in Seville when a pass from French playmaker Michel Platini found substitute Patrick Battiston in acres of space.

With goalkeeper Schumacher flying out of his goal in an attempt to intercept, Battiston looped the ball over his opponent. However, despite the ball having long gone, Schumacher continued his run, ploughing into Battiston in a sickening fashion.

Blog: Who will be the World Cup's best player?

The Frenchman was knocked unconscious and suffered damaged vertebrae as well as losing two teeth. Unbelievably, not only did Schumacher escape totally unpunished for the incident, the referee failed to even award the French a free-kick.

To rub salt into the wounds, Germany won on penalties to reach the final.

7. England v West Germany, 1966

England, the nation that brought football to the world, had reached the final of the World Cup on the hallowed turf of London's Wembley Stadium.

After 89 minutes, the hosts led 2-1 and seemed destined for victory. However, a last-gasp Wolfgang Weber goal sent the match into extra-time, and a fired-up German side smelled victory.

But, with 11 minutes of extra-time played, Geoff Hurst's shot bounced back off the underside of the German crossbar and down onto the goal line before being cleared. Fellow striker Roger Hunt turned away in celebration, convinced the whole of the ball had crossed the line.

After a period of uncertainty, linesman Tofik Bakhramov from Azerbaijan confirmed the goal. The Germans were incensed, and the TV technology of the time proved inconclusive.

There is no doubt that the goal changed the course of the game, and Hurst later became the only man to score a final hat-trick with a last-gasp fourth for England.

6. Chile v Italy, 1962

Probably the most violent game of football in World Cup history is universally known as the "Battle of Santiago."

In the aftermath of a powerful earthquake just two years earlier, Chile had made a success of hosting the tournament. However, two Italian journalists unwisely decided to write a disparaging article about capital city Santiago, which fanned the flames before the match.

The 90 minutes that followed saw English referee Ken Aston completely lose control of proceedings. Police had to intervene three times as both sides exchanged punches and kicks with alarming regularity. Add in some spitting for good measure, and it's easy to picture the scene.

Bizarrely, the host nation finished the match with all 11 men on the field, while Italy had two players dismissed. The final score, which seemed to be completely lost in a haze of violence, was 2-0 to Chile.

5. France v Kuwait, 1982

France were coasting to victory in this group game in Valladolid, Spain. Leading 3-1 and with the clock ticking, Alain Giresse burst through unchallenged to add a fourth goal.

However, the Kuwaitis claimed they stopped playing because they had heard a whistle, and TV replays clearly picked up the sound of a whistle, presumably blown by somebody in the crowd.

Become a CNN Super Fan: Why your country needs you!

This infuriated Kuwaiti FA president Prince Fahid, who promptly stormed onto the pitch and demanded that his players walked off in protest. Inexplicably, Russian referee Miroslav Stupar bowed to the Kuwaiti protest and chalked off a totally legitimate goal.

To make the situation even more bizarre, France defender Maxime Bossis then went on to score his only international goal in 76 matches to revert the scoreline to its rightful position with just a minute remaining.

4. Zinedine Zidane, 2006

Zidane, the man who almost single-handedly won the World Cup eight years earlier, had been brought out of international retirement to help struggling France through their qualification group.

Installed as captain, the midfield maestro then produced a succession of brilliant displays to help France reach the final against Italy in Berlin, being named the tournament's best player in the process.

With retirement beckoning after the match, the scene was set for Zidane to go out on a high, and his early penalty put the French ahead. However, Marco Materazzi leveled for Italy, and those two players were to take center stage in the ensuing extra-time period.

With 10 minutes remaining, Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo was alerted to the fact that Materazzi was writhing on the floor in agony. Television replays showed Zidane firmly planting a head butt into the midriff of the Italian defender and, although Elizondo had missed it, he showed Zidane a red card on the strength of the fourth official's advice.

Zidane later claimed that Materazzi had insulted a member of his family, and has never apologized for the incident -- a sad end to a glittering career.

3. West Germany v Austria, 1982

West Germany had flopped disastrously in the previous finals in 1978. They entered that tournament as the defending champions, but just one win in six games meant the pressure was on in Spain -- which intensified when the Germans suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Algeria in their opening match.

Victory over Chile followed, meaning that a win over Austria in the final group game would secure Germany's qualification to the second phase.

Austria had won their first two matches, and could afford to lose 1-0 and still qualify, but a heavy defeat would let in Algeria -- who had already played their three games.

Horst Hrubesch scored for Germany in the 10th minute and, with the result benefiting both teams, the remaining 80 minutes became a stroll in the Gijon sunshine.

Algeria were out, and a public outcry followed -- so much so that governing body FIFA subsequently changed its rules, and the final two matches in a group are now played simultaneously.

2. Andres Escobar, 1994

Colombia were viewed as one of the favorites for overall victory in the United States, but a disappointing 3-1 defeat by Romania in their opening group game meant the pressure was on for the next match against the host nation, in front of nearly 100,000 people in Pasadena.

With the scores level after 34 minutes, Atletico Nacional full-back Escobar deflected a cross from John Harkes into his own net. The U.S. eventually won the match 2-1 and the highly-fancied Colombians were heading home despite beating Switzerland in their final group match.

Just 10 days after his error, Escobar was shot 12 times outside a bar in his home city of Medellin. Speculation abounded about the motives, with reports that Escobar's own-goal had cost local betting syndicates a small fortune.

A local teacher was found guilty of his murder, and served just 11 years in jail. Escobar was only 27 years of age, and a nation mourned his death.

1. Diego Maradona, 1986

Just four years earlier, Argentina and England had been at war over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Casualties were high on both sides in some of the bloodiest battles seen anywhere since the end of World War II.

With tensions still high between the nations, fate decreed that they were drawn together in the quarterfinals in Mexico City.

Aged 25, Maradona was at his peak, running at defenses with devastating pace and skill. In the 51st minute, one such surge resulted in the ball looping into the air off a defender, before Maradona punched it into the net just ahead of the advancing goalkeeper Peter Shilton.

Incensed England players claimed handball -- and the TV replays and photos of the incident were conclusive -- but the goal stood.

Maradona was to go on and score one of the greatest goals in history as Argentina won the game 2-1 on their way to eventually lifting the trophy.

Maradona, now Argentina's national coach, later admitted what he had done, famously claiming it was the "Hand of God," and so maintaining a rivalry between the countries which stands to this day.

He later wrote in his autobiography that the incident was "revenge" for the Malvinas war: "We blamed the English players for everything that happened, for all the suffering of the Argentine people."

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