IT was Sergio Ramos who dropped the Coppa del Rey while celebrating Real Madrid’s victory in the Spanish cup. A bus then drove over the trophy. Germany have managed something even more embarrassing.

When triumphant Germany returned home with the World Cup trophy, wild celebrations ensued in Berlin, complete with a dramatic unveiling of Philipp Lahm holding the prize aloft.

But somewhere amidst all the jumping, frolicking and merriment-making, the Cup sustained a bit of damage. In fact, a small piece of it is now missing, as the German Football Federation president  Wolfgang Niersbach revealed.