Coca-Cola Kid fizzes on Euro stage

Would you believe it? The Coca-Cola Kid in the European Championship semifinal. Not only that, Colin Kazim-Richards was looking for all the world like a top-class international when, in reality, he has been a bit-part player for most of his fledgling career, trying and failing to make a proper mark in England before heading to Turkey for further cameo appearances as a substitute for Fenerbahce.

Now here he was, courtesy of a Turkish-Cypriot mother, shining for his adopted country against Germany in Basle.

In fairness, Kazim-Richards probably only got the nod on Wednesday night because nine of his team-mates were missing. Nevertheless, that didn't matter. Everyone needs a leg-up at some time or other and the boy from Walthamstow didn't waste his with some wonderful contributions.

Twice he hit the crossbar with goalkeeper Jens Lehmann beaten and on the second occasion his effort rebounded invitingly for Ugur Boral to pounce.

The 21-year-old was certainly enjoying himself. No wonder either when he was managing to make Philipp Lahm, one of the best left-backs in this tournament, look like a stuttering novice.

It was at Brighton where that Coca-Cola tag was earned after a fan won a competition sponsored by the drinks company to sign a player of his choice with a certain sum. In the end, the burgeoning promise of Kazim-Richards was chosen, only for that promise to go largely unfulfilled.

Yet there were no favours or favourites in St Jakob-Park. The verdict on his performance can't have been anything but healthy as the right winger continued to give Lahm all sorts of problems.

A tournament of surprises has just seen another - the arrival of the Coca-Cola Kid.