Only 7 percent of Germans expect their team to win the World Cup
(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-22 20:39
BERLIN _ Only 7 percent of Germans expect their team to win the World
Cup on home soil, according to a poll released Monday.
The survey found that another 6 percent expect Germany to match its run to
the final four years ago and lose. Brazil beat Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final.
Another 37 percent believe Germany will reach the semifinals, but 31 percent
think the host nation will be eliminated earlier, according to the poll by the
Allensbach institute. Nineteen percent of those surveyed declined to give a
forecast. No margin of error was provided.
The poll of 1,076 Germans age 16 and over was carried out between April 28
and May 10, before coach Juergen Klinsmann unveiled his World Cup squad.
Klinsmann has been promoting young players since he took over the team after
it crashed out of the 2004 European Championship in the first round.
He has picked uncapped David Odonkor for his 23-man squad, dropping striker
Kevin Kuranyi, but also brought in experienced defender Jens Nowotny to shore up
his shaky defense.
Germany opens the tournament June 9, when it plays Costa Rica. It also faces
Ecuador and Poland in Group A.
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