Countdown to 2006 World Cup in Germany: 18 days

IRNA - The following are a selection of brief football news items which appeared in the German press on Monday.

German interior minister vows to hold safe World Cup tournament --------------------------------------------------------------- German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble pledged to hold a safe 2006 World Cup despite continued threats by football hooligans.

He stressed Germany's domestic intelligence service was well prepared to deal with security challenges like hooliganism and terrorism.

The 64-game World Cup tournament will be staged in 12 German cities from June 9 through July 9
Angola plans test-game marathon ahead of 2006 World Cup ------------------------------------------------------- Iran's Group D rivals Angola plan to hold a test-game marathon ahead of the 2006 World Cup, due to begin on June 9.

The African debutants will have tuning up games against Argentina, Saudi Arabia, the US as well as a local amateur team of their World Cup host city Celle.

Nicknamed 'the Black Antelopes', Angola will face Portugal, Mexico and Iran in Group D.

Football scandal damages Italy during World Cup: Beckenbauer ------------------------------------------------------------ The latest revelations in the Italian football scandal will severely damage the Italian national football team during the upcoming World Cup in Germany, said the head of the German World Cup Organizing Committee, Franz Beckenbauer.

"It is the worst thing I have ever seen in the world of football," Beckenbauer was quoted as saying.

"I have counted Italy as one of the (World Cup) favorites until recently. However now I am sure that the chaos which has broken out, will damage the squad."
139 World Cup title-holders to attend opening festivities --------------------------------------------------------- Some 139 former players from previous World Cup winning teams will take part in the opening festivities in Munich on June 9.

The list of World Cup champs includes players from countries with a winning World Cup tradition like Brazil, Germany, Italy and Argentina.

The opening game of the World Cup will be staged between Germany and Costa Rica in Munich on June 9.

Klinsmann 'dreams of World Cup title celebrations' in Berlin ------------------------------------------------------------ German head coach Juergen Klinsmann reportedly 'dreams of World Cup title celebrations' at Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate on July 9.

Most Germans remain doubtful about Germany's World Cup chances.

Triple World Cup winners Germany is one of the most successful teams in the history of the World Cup.