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Preparing for the world cup |
Two tourists stand on the tribune of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. The final of the soccer World Cup 2006 in Germany will be held in the stadium on July 9. (Markus Schreiber, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
Alan Cairncross from Scotland, greenkeeper of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin poses for photographers on the pitch. (Markus Schreiber, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
An employee presents a pure gold soccer ball worth 20 060 000 yen (US$177 800) to the media at Tokyo's Takashimaya Department Store. The soccer ball in actual size, weighing 3 kilograms, will go on sale in Japan on Saturday, ahead of the sport's World Cup finals. (Kyodo News, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
Aerial view shows the VIP hospitality and media area for the upcoming soccer World Cup at the Olympic stadium, background, in Berlin. (Markus Schreiber, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
A worker puts the finishing touches to a giant soccer ball in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. An interactive exhibition on soccer will be on display inside the ball during the upcoming soccer World Cup in Germany starting June 9, 2006. (Herbert Knosowski, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
Volunteers wait under red World Cup umbrellas for the national soccer team of Ghana to arrive at the airport in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Martin Meissner, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
Spectators watch the Brazilian national soccer team practice in the stadium in Weggis, Switzerland. (Keystone/Steffen Schmidt, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
Fans watch French soccer team during a training session in Tignes, French Alps. The French team is spending four days in the ski resort with their families before returning to their training headquarters of Clairefontaine near Paris. (Christophe Ena, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
Injured Vladimir Smicer of Girondins Bordeaux squats during the Czech national soccer team training session in Seefeld, Austria. (CTK, Radek Petrasek, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
Germany's 2nd goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, left, sits next to goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as the German soccer World Cup team pose for a team picture in the Stade de Geneve, in Geneva, Switzerland. (Anja Niedringhaus, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
Italy's soccer team forwards Francesco Totti, center, Filippo Inzaghi, left, and Marco Amelia joke as they pose for the official photo wearing the new jerseys designed by Dolce & Gabbana, prior to a practice session at the Coverciano training grounds, near Florence, Italy. (Lorenzo Galassi, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
Spain's national players David Villa, Antonio Lopez, Cesc Fabregas and Senna listen to instructions of Spain's national soccer team coach Luis Aragones, right, during a training session in Las Rozas, just outside of Madrid. (Bernat Armangue, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
Brazil's national soccer player Emerson juggles with balls, during a training session in Weggis, central Switzerland. (Keystone/Urs Flueeler, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
An advertising banner showing German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn overstretches a motorway near the Franz-Josef-Strauss Aiport in Munich. (Christof Stache, AP)
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Preparing for the world cup |
The referees of the soccer World Cup 2006 pose for a picture in Neu Isenburg, near Frankfurt, central Germany. Front row from left: Toru Kamikawa, Japan, Shamsul Madin, Singapore, Essam Abd el Fatah, Egypt, Coffi Codija, Benim, Khalil Al Ghamdi, Saudi Arabia, Mogamed Guezzaz, Morocco, Jerome Damon, South Africa, Kevin Stott, USA. Middle row from left: Benito Archundia, Mexico, Marco Rodriguez, Mexico, Clarlos Amarilla, Paraguay, Horacio Elizondo, Argentina, Jorge Larrionda, Uruguay, Oscar Ruiz, Colombia, Carlos Simon, Brazil, Mark Shield, Australia, Carlos Chandia, Chile. Back row from left, Massiom Bussaca, Switzerland, Franck de Bleekere, Belgium, Valantin Ivanov, Russia, Luis Medina Cantalejo, Spain, Markus Merk, Germany, Lubos Michel, Slovakia, Graham Poll, England, Eric Poulat, France, Roberto Rosetti, Italy. (Michael Probst, AP)
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