ZURICH, July 6 (Reuters/ AFP): The decision to award the 2006 World Cup finals to Germany today was a personal triumph for Franz Beckenbauer who showed again that everything he touches turns to gold.

While the man known as the Kaiser cracked Jokes and brought in with a flourish Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, supermodel Claudia Schiffer and tennis star Boris Becker, their European opponents England were quite the opposite as two of the men who defeated him in the 1966 World Cup Sir Geoff Hurst and Sir Bobby Charlton looked like beaten men.

The English seemed to have realised that they were headed for the exit as they dealt their last card — the ethnic one.

Favourites South Africa, who have been sounding less upbeat of late, by contrast tugged at the heartstrings of the FIFA Executive Committee while Morocco went for broke by declaring that the Moroccan people would not understand that the winner had been decided solely by internal FIFA politics and not on merit.

However, it was Beckenbauer who stole the show, entering the room with a piece of turf that he says will be from where the 2006 World Cup will kick-off once it is placed In the centre circle in the Olympic Stadium in Munich “

Such was his confidence that he even brought out a miniature hotel and showed FIFA president Sepp Blatter where his penthouse would be. adding, one imagined, at South Africa's expense: ’You’ll be secure there'.

Amid a flurry of films, one bringing back memories of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as children ran round the streets

of an old German town kicking a football — though without a sign of the infamous Child-catcher — Beckenbauer made a strong political point as to why Germany deserved to host It for the second time.

"You may think that wc have already hosted one (1974) but then we were divided — between East and West Germany — now we are united." he said.

With its proven capacity to stage major tournaments and its rich soccer tradition. Germany seemed the safest option to many. But South Africa's claim that it was about time an African nation hosted the showpiece event and the fact that FIFA president Sepp Blatter shared that view made them the favourities until the final act was played out

"Two days before the vote, Beckenbauer said Germany had -11 considered pull trig: anti .'because Brazil had lent its support to South Africa after withdrawing its own candidature.

This is horse trading directed against us." he said, clearly upset.

But the next day he was in confident mood again, peppering his speech with jokes during the final presentation of a bid he has promoted tirelessly for

the last three years.

"1 trust you." he told the voters after reminding them that Germany had the stadiums, the infrastructure and the experience required.

"You all know that we are capable of staging World Cup finals." he said.

Germany showed the world it could handle major soccer tournaments by hosting the 1974 World Cup and the 1988 European championship finals.

Some felt the fact that it already had staged the World Cup might be a handicap but Beckenbauer insisted it would be a new experience since what was then West Germany has since become part of a unified nation.

The German government played his part, clearing a major hurdle by granting FIFA tax exemption on the huge profits to be made by the ruling body from the competition In Germany.

A history of soccer-related violence was also regarded as an obstacle but tough new laws introduced before Euro 2000 showed the problem was being tackled seriously.

Sixteen cities — among them all 10 venues of the 1974 World Cup — have been shortlisted. The list will now be cut down to 10 to 12 venues, with Munich likely to host the opening match while Berlin should get the final. Both Olympic stadiums are about, to undergo major

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। Germany.' whose national team dropped but of Euro 2000 in the group stage in their worst performance at a significant competition, now face the daunting task of having to build a team capable of faring decently on home soil in six years time.

At least they will not have to qualify.