±±¾©Èü³µpk10

MSN has created a destination with football content to provide advertisers with football-themed opportunities.

Football stars Michael Owen, Ronaldinho, Gianluigi Buffon, Xabi Alsonso and Edgar Davids will provide MSN with behind-the-scenes insights into life as a world-class footballer. More big names are to be announced.

Fans will be able to access online player diaries and view weekly webcasts, where the players comment on their team performances and personal successes.

MSN Messenger users will also be able to challenge friends to an online game based on the World Cup.

MSN is developing a series of sponsorships packages that can be tailored to individual client. These include MSN Messenger football Theme Packs, with branded emoticons and backgrounds; MSN Messenger Alerts, signalling when players' blogs are updated and highlighting local news; and sponsorship of each of the footballer's content areas, allowing advertisers to directly link brands to exclusive reports from these top footballers.

According to Owen: "Working with MSN UK is going to be great as it's something new and exciting for me and the other players involved. We'll be able to provide fun and interesting insights into the world of football to loads of people world-wide throughout the tournament."

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .