LEADER: Is ambush battle ultimately futile? - The cola turf battle that has erupted in Thailand, leveraging on this month's kick-off of the World Cup, is par for the course

With the help of Britney Spears, kitted out in football gear and kicking a ball around with a young Thai soccer star, Pepsi is simply following an ambush path previously trodden by global giants like American Express, Kodak and Nike.