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06-10-2006, 06:05 AM
World Cup 2006 kicks off in Munich, Germany
Updated Fri. Jun. 9 2006 12:07 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The World Cup of soccer, the globe's most-watched sporting spectacle, kicked off in Germany today amid tight security and massive crowds that have descended for the event.
The first match of the tournament pits the host country Germany against Costa Rica -- a match German fans are desperate for their team to win.
The World Cup's return to Munich comes nearly 32 years after West Germany won the 10th World Cup in the same city.
Thousands of people have arrived in Munich for the start of the tournament, cramming into countless beer tents along the city's so-called "Party Mile" to watch the games on giant screens.
Kegs were stacked in ranks on pallets along the street in preparation for legions of thirsty fans, and 35,000 people were expected to visit the city's Olympic Park.
Germans, hosting their first major international sporting event since East and West Germany were reunified, were anxious to start the tournament by marking a win on the scoreboard.
However, the team is expected to take to the field minus its captain and star midfielder Michael Ballack, and fans are nervous about what his absence might mean for the team.
Ballack has made himself available to play despite a calf strain, but is expected to be sidelined.
"I hope we don't lose to Costa Rica," Steffen Koblitz, 39, told The Associated Press.
"I hope they make it to the final, but the semifinal is about as far as I think they'll get."
Ballack's absence is a crushing blow to Germany. The 29-year-old is considered to be the team's one true world-class star.
Vic Rauter, TSN's soccer analyst, said many Canadians -- who are just now hopping on the football bandwagon -- don't understand the true scale of the event.
"It's second probably only to the summer games in terms of how big it is," he told CTV's Canada AM.
"One-hundred-and-ninety-seven countries start this two-year process, including the Canadians, within five geographic areas of the world. You whittle it down, whittle it down, whittle it down, until you get to 31, plus the host which is Germany."
Just getting to the tournament is a massive accomplishment, and in order to win "the stars really have to align," he said.
"You have to avoid injuries. Maybe a ball goes off the post, maybe somebody scores, maybe somebody plays so defensively, as the Greeks did two years ago at the European Championship, shutting down people.
There is one clear favourite, however.
"If the Brazilians play to their ability, nobody touches them," Rauten said.
Security measures
Meanwhile, police in Munich implemented tight security measures, and were prepared for trouble.
"All kinds will be meeting up, with nothing to separate them," said deputy Munich police chief Jens Viering. "We are counting on it: There will be trouble."
Across the country, security officials were doing everything they could to pull off the event without a hitch.
Security at the Polish border, about an hour from Munich, was also boosted.
One official said the mood in Germany was overwhelmingly positive, despite earlier fears of widespread hooliganism.
Federal police spokesman Jens Schobranski told AP on Thursday that officers were keeping a close eye out for troublemakers, but had nothing significant to report so far.
Michael Gabriel, who runs fan programs aimed at curbing soccer disruptions on Deutschlandfunk public radio, said he wasn't concerned.
"We're relatively unworried, especially when you see how the World Cup has almost opened in Berlin and what euphoria people are bringing onto the streets," Gabriel said.
"This mood is really the best prevention against violence."
The event is expected to jolt the German economy after several slow years.
The 64-match tournament is expected to pull in one million visitors, who are expected to spend $1 billion Euros -- contributing 0.2 percentage points to the 1.8 per cent of growth that is expected to occur this year.
The German government, headed by Angela Merkel, the nation's first female chancellor, is enjoying consistently high approval ratings after six months in office.
Germany capable of "top-class performances."
Merkel said the World Cup presents a unique opportunity for Germany to prove itself on the world stage.
"We all want to show that Germany is capable of top-class performances -- and not just in soccer stadiums," Merkel told AP.
"We are looking forward to guests from every corner of the Earth and we want to celebrate a great festival with them, peacefully and joyfully."
With thousands of international journalists visiting for the tournament, however, there are fears any isolated incidents of violence or racism will receive extensive coverage around the world.
Recently, a Turkish-born Berlin state legislator suffered a concussion after an attack by two men shouted anti-Turkish.
In addition to concerns about attacks on foreigners and minorities, there have also been worries about the availability of tickets.
Government officials have warned those who promote violence will face swift justice.
Oh BTW, Germany Won the First Match 4 - 2, and Poland is the forcasted to win later today.
Updated Fri. Jun. 9 2006 12:07 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The World Cup of soccer, the globe's most-watched sporting spectacle, kicked off in Germany today amid tight security and massive crowds that have descended for the event.
The first match of the tournament pits the host country Germany against Costa Rica -- a match German fans are desperate for their team to win.
The World Cup's return to Munich comes nearly 32 years after West Germany won the 10th World Cup in the same city.
Thousands of people have arrived in Munich for the start of the tournament, cramming into countless beer tents along the city's so-called "Party Mile" to watch the games on giant screens.
Kegs were stacked in ranks on pallets along the street in preparation for legions of thirsty fans, and 35,000 people were expected to visit the city's Olympic Park.
Germans, hosting their first major international sporting event since East and West Germany were reunified, were anxious to start the tournament by marking a win on the scoreboard.
However, the team is expected to take to the field minus its captain and star midfielder Michael Ballack, and fans are nervous about what his absence might mean for the team.
Ballack has made himself available to play despite a calf strain, but is expected to be sidelined.
"I hope we don't lose to Costa Rica," Steffen Koblitz, 39, told The Associated Press.
"I hope they make it to the final, but the semifinal is about as far as I think they'll get."
Ballack's absence is a crushing blow to Germany. The 29-year-old is considered to be the team's one true world-class star.
Vic Rauter, TSN's soccer analyst, said many Canadians -- who are just now hopping on the football bandwagon -- don't understand the true scale of the event.
"It's second probably only to the summer games in terms of how big it is," he told CTV's Canada AM.
"One-hundred-and-ninety-seven countries start this two-year process, including the Canadians, within five geographic areas of the world. You whittle it down, whittle it down, whittle it down, until you get to 31, plus the host which is Germany."
Just getting to the tournament is a massive accomplishment, and in order to win "the stars really have to align," he said.
"You have to avoid injuries. Maybe a ball goes off the post, maybe somebody scores, maybe somebody plays so defensively, as the Greeks did two years ago at the European Championship, shutting down people.
There is one clear favourite, however.
"If the Brazilians play to their ability, nobody touches them," Rauten said.
Security measures
Meanwhile, police in Munich implemented tight security measures, and were prepared for trouble.
"All kinds will be meeting up, with nothing to separate them," said deputy Munich police chief Jens Viering. "We are counting on it: There will be trouble."
Across the country, security officials were doing everything they could to pull off the event without a hitch.
Security at the Polish border, about an hour from Munich, was also boosted.
One official said the mood in Germany was overwhelmingly positive, despite earlier fears of widespread hooliganism.
Federal police spokesman Jens Schobranski told AP on Thursday that officers were keeping a close eye out for troublemakers, but had nothing significant to report so far.
Michael Gabriel, who runs fan programs aimed at curbing soccer disruptions on Deutschlandfunk public radio, said he wasn't concerned.
"We're relatively unworried, especially when you see how the World Cup has almost opened in Berlin and what euphoria people are bringing onto the streets," Gabriel said.
"This mood is really the best prevention against violence."
The event is expected to jolt the German economy after several slow years.
The 64-match tournament is expected to pull in one million visitors, who are expected to spend $1 billion Euros -- contributing 0.2 percentage points to the 1.8 per cent of growth that is expected to occur this year.
The German government, headed by Angela Merkel, the nation's first female chancellor, is enjoying consistently high approval ratings after six months in office.
Germany capable of "top-class performances."
Merkel said the World Cup presents a unique opportunity for Germany to prove itself on the world stage.
"We all want to show that Germany is capable of top-class performances -- and not just in soccer stadiums," Merkel told AP.
"We are looking forward to guests from every corner of the Earth and we want to celebrate a great festival with them, peacefully and joyfully."
With thousands of international journalists visiting for the tournament, however, there are fears any isolated incidents of violence or racism will receive extensive coverage around the world.
Recently, a Turkish-born Berlin state legislator suffered a concussion after an attack by two men shouted anti-Turkish.
In addition to concerns about attacks on foreigners and minorities, there have also been worries about the availability of tickets.
Government officials have warned those who promote violence will face swift justice.
Oh BTW, Germany Won the First Match 4 - 2, and Poland is the forcasted to win later today.
I was the only member on this board with a Yellow Focus Sedan, and a 2002+ Euro Facelift on a sedan.
