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Bush doubts whether US team can win World Cup

8 May 2006

HAMBURG – United States President George W. Bush is just one American learning from a new generation of countrymen that the football World Cup is a huge event all over the planet.

Bush said in an exclusive interview with Germany’s Bild am Sonntag Sunday paper that he was brought up without a link to the sport and has only little knowledge of it to date.

“Until recently many Americans weren’t aware how important the World Cup is. Many of us grew up without being in contact with the game, me for example. I never saw a football game as a kid. The sport simply didn’t exist.

“So there is one generation of Americans who really aren’t football fans at all.

“But there is a new generation which grew up with football. They naturally take big interest in the World Cup. And we older guys are starting to understand how important the World Cup is for the entire world. It is the biggest sports event in the world,” he said.

Bush said he will naturally support the US team at the June 9-July 9 finals in Germany, but isn’t sure whether Bruce Arena’s team is good enough to claim the title.

“My team is naturally the US team. I have been told that we have a good team. But who knows whether it is good enough to win. But I know one thing for sure: they will do their best,” Bush said.

Bush, who earlier in the week met with German chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House, said he expected Germany to stage a fantastic tournament.

“It must be a big honour for Germany to host the event. I am convinced that the Germans will do a terrific job and will warmly welcome the people from around the world,” the President said.

However, Bush won’t get a first-hand look at the World Cup, because his next visit to Germany is scheduled for five days after the final, July 14.

Bush’s sport is baseball. He is a former co-owner and managing general partner of the Texas Rangers in the 1990s and even reportedly toyed with running for Major League Baseball commissioner in 1993 before deciding in favour of politics and being elected governor of Texas.

DPA

Subject: German news