■ Germany
Kofi wants final ticket
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is coming to Germany early next month and hopes to attend the final in Berlin on July 9, the German government said on Wednesday. A German government spokesman said Annan planned to attend the July 11 opening of the UN campus in Bonn along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "A visit to the final World Cup match is also planned," the spokesman said, adding that Annan's schedule was still subject to change. In New York, a UN spokesman said he could not confirm any plans by Annan to travel to Germany. Annan, 68, was born in Ghana.
■ United Kingdom
Dudek robbed while away
Police were called to the home of Liverpool's Jerzy Dudek after he returned from holiday on Tuesday to find his entire medal collection missing. Burglars stole over 120 items, including the goalkeeper's Champions League winners' medal from last year, his car and a number of other personal possessions. "A lot of this stuff which has been stolen is irreplaceable and you can't put a price on it," a Liverpool spokesman said. Dudek, who was left out of Poland's World Cup squad despite his 54 caps, stopped Andriy Shevchenko's penalty shot to give Liverpool its fifth European Cup last year.
■ Thailand
Caffeine kick kills fan
A construction worker died of a heart attack after consuming excessive quantities of caffeine to stay up late to watch the England versus Sweden match early on Wednesday, news reports said. Hall Kiddie, 38, was found dead in his rented room in Prachin Buri, 90km northeast of Bangkok, apparently having suffered a heart attack, said the Bangkok Post. Friends told police that they had seen Hall taking freshly brewed coffee and energy drinks, high in caffeine content, to his room where he planned to watch the World Cup all night.
■ Costa Rica
Fans berate Cup flops
After losing all its World Cup final matches in Germany, a disgraced and jetlagged Costa Rican soccer team had to face taunts from a group of angry hecklers when it arrived home on Wednesday. Receiving the loudest catcalls was coach Alexandre Guimaraes, who emerged from the airport to chants of "Dog! dog!" from a small group of unhappy fans. Costa Rica lost to Germany, Ecuador and Poland, leading to speculation that Guimaraes might need to look for another job upon his return home.
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