Influential German magazine Der Spiegel has published a report that notes the prevalence of iPod-using footballers during the recent World Cup.

Football fans saw player after player on their TV screens walking around with Apple's tell-tale white earphones around their necks.

After the tournament, the magazine published a short list of "16 things we've learned during the World Cup". In eleventh place sat Apple's iPod, with the title saying: "No football player worth his salt, regardless of nationality, leaves the house without an iPod and white earbuds. Once someone passed by with big earphones. Are they even cooler? Or yesterday's news?  No, probably just a mistake: it wasn't a player, as they're all out and about (see above) with their iPod!"

You can find the full story (in German) here.