So Many Ways to Put a Stamp on the Game

World Cup fever has spread as far afield as the isolated North Korean capital of Pyongyang. North Korean Central Broadcasting told its South Korean counterpart it would like to air the soccer tournament but has no money to pay for broadcasting rights. South Korea said it would consider helping the North Koreans.

During the 2002 World Cup, for which South Korea and Japan played host, the South Koreans sent videotapes across the demilitarized zone so that North Koreans could enjoy watching the matches, albeit a day late. The communist country hasn’t qualified for the World Cup since 1966, when it pulled off an upset by beating Italy and qualifying for the quarterfinals. The North Koreans are showing their enthusiasm this year by issuing commemorative postage stamps.

-- Barbara Demick

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BERLIN -- German groceries retailer chain Plus offered in its weekly newspaper advertisement supplement a “Touching World Cup toilet paper with soccer motives and lawn fragrance,” eight rolls for about $1.88.

Meanwhile, a Frankfurt retailer is selling lingerie with soccer motives, or terms, such as “bull’s eye” or “penalty area” printed on ladies’ pants.

Marcello Lippi, coach of Italy, tried to cool down the atmosphere for his players: He banished all female wait staff from “Squadra Azzurri’s” German home-base hotel in Duisburg.

Although Germany is playing host to the World Cup, pollster Forsa found that 45% of Germans surveyed expect Brazil to be the champion of the 2006 tournament, while only 19% believe that Germany will regain the Cup.

-- Christian Retzlaff