Deutschland, Deutschland, they're the champions

But Singapore scored an own goal with its anti-gambling advert during the World Cup. An ad campaign warning of the perils of gambling that began as just another bland public service announcement by Singapore’s government has turned into fodder for international mockery, and left authorities scrambling after Germany’s World Cup victory. In the TV version of the ad, which debuted last month when the World Cup kicked off, a sullen young boy named Andy tells his friends in the playground that his father had used all of Andy’s savings to bet on Germany to win the tournament. Sad piano music is cued and a message is displayed: "Often, the people who suffer from problem gambling aren’t the gamblers." The PSA wasn’t lampooned until Germany won its first match against Portugal, 4-0. As the World Cup progressed and the Germans looked more and more like favourites to win the title, the mocking of the ad intensified, with many wondering if little Andy and his dad were going to make a killing on the bet, which they did. After Germany’s stunning 7-1 semifinal drubbing of Brazil, the ad prompted ridiculing on The Tonight Show. "Cheer up, kid, your dad bet on Germany," host Jimmy Fallon said. "He’s so rich you don’t even need to go to college anymore." Is he? Not yet, for the council rushed to post a new ad on its website. It features Andy’s friend asking him: "Your dad’s team won. Did you get your savings back?" Andy replies: "No, Dad never stops - he wants to bet one more time." Andy's father, if you're reading this, you need help. That "one more time" will turn into tens, hundreds, maybe even thousands more bets. You could lose more than just Andy's savings by this time next year. It's not too late.