25,000 expected at Brazil session

The first public appearance by the world champions on German soil in Offenbach next Thursday is sure to have a carnival atmosphere.

The 2006 FIFA World Cup OC is expecting a capacity crowd for the much anticipated training session which kicks off at 4.45 p.m.

Preparations are already well underway for dealing with these unprecedented numbers. The capacity of the time-honoured arena of the Offenbacher Kickers has been set at 25,000.

"Our approach to organising this training session will be just the same as for a sell-out Bundesliga fixture," lained Helmut Sandrock, head of the Tournament Organisation department of the OC, after visiting the stadium on Whit Sunday with representatives of the police, the Kickers club and the private security firm hired by the OC.

Entry is free but fans will need a ticket to get their samba soccer fix.

Several booths will open on Tuesday 6 June and possibly also on Wednesday at the Kickers‘ Bieberer Berg ticket office for the distribution of tickets to see Ronaldinho and Co. in the flesh.

The limit will be set at four tickets per person, and the stadium will open at 1.45 p.m, some three hours before the scheduled start of training to ensure that no-one misses out on the action.

400 security personnel will be on hand to safeguard Carlos Parreira’s men.

posted by nscafuro @ 6:18 AM