Germany may not play 2006 WC finals opener

Hosts Germany could opt not to play the opening game of the 2006 World Cup finals, organising committee chairman Franz Beckenbauer said on Monday.

Beckenbauer confirmed reports that Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann wanted the hosts to start the tournament three days later than the opening match to have more time to prepare.

Beckenbauer said the original plan to have Germany playing the opening game in Munich could be changed and world champions Brazil could play instead, providing they qualified.

"We, at the organising committee, don't mind whether Germany or Brazil play the opening game," Beckenbauer told German sports television channel DSF.

"We would have liked Germany to start with a highlight but the Brazil solution would not be bad either," he added.

Klinsmann, who was appointed in July, also said he was against the idea of having Germany's training camp in Leverkusen, which he felt was not practical.

The plan to have the camp in Leverkusen was agreed when Rudi Voeller was still in charge and was seen as a compensation after the city's bid to stage games of the 2006 finals was turned down because its stadium was too small.

"He (Klinsmann) has the right to refuse what Rudi Voeller found correct and to have the team training somewhere else," Beckenbauer said.