World Cup politics behind the scenes at tournament

By Terry Maddaford

German soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer admits England have the "home advantage" in their attempt to sway New Zealanders to support one or other of the five bids to host soccer's 2006 World Cup, but that in no way detracts from his efforts to tell the German story.

Beckenbauer and another German great, Jurgen Klinsmann, are in Auckland to see the final games in the world under-17 championships en route to Tokyo for the preliminary rounds draw of the 2002 World Cup next week.

The German bid sees 16 cities deeply involved. Beckenbauer, who is also president of Bayern Munich, said stadiums had been or would be rebuilt where necessary.

"Winning the right to host the 2006 World Cup is seen as an important step in the reunification of Germany," he said.

"I won everything I could in football but this [the bid] is a real challenge."

Of suggestions Oceania Football Confederation president and Fifa executive member Charlie Dempsey had already thrown his support behind England's bid, Beckenbauer said: "Today Charlie Dempsey said he had changed his mind. He is 50-50 now."

Beckenbauer also acknowledged Fifa president Sepp Blatter's right to single out South Africa as his choice in the five-team race to host the cup.

"They [Africa] are the only major confederation yet to host the championship."

While England, Germany and South Africa have been mentioned as the likely front-runners ahead of Brazil and Morocco, Beckenbauer says there is no No 1 or No 2.

But he would not be drawn on a likely bid for 2010 if Germany missed out at the vote in July next year.

England, headed by Sir Bobby Charlton, and South Africa, with Danny Jordan leading the charge, also courted Dempsey at meetings yesterday.