Pope Benedict gives World Cup his blessing

POPE Benedict will watch the most important matches of next year’s World Cup and believes Germany has a strong side, World Cup chief Franz Beckenbauer said after meeting the Pontiff yesterday.

Beckenbauer, popularly known as the Kaiser, handed the Pope a 2006 World Cup pennant at the brief audience.

“He was very interested (in the World Cup),” Beckenbauer said after the meeting. The Pontiff asked for “information about the organisation of the event and even about the stadiums where the teams will play.”

Both the Pope and Beckenbauer come from Bavaria, home to one of Germany’s most famous teams, Bayern Munich.

Germany host the 2006 World Cup and pressure is growing for a fourth title after success in 1954, 1974 and 1990. However, the team has won just two of their last five matches since finishing third in the Confederations Cup in June behind Brazil and Argentina.

Beckenbauer, president of the 2006 World Cup organising committee, was joined yesterday by former Germany and AS Roma coach Rudi Voeller.