Little Hope for Home World Cup Win

German soccer fans do not hold out much hope of lifting the 2006 World Cup on home soil, according to a poll conducted for Stern magazine. Just over 1000 Germans were asked how they rated their team's chances and only three percent said they believed in a repeat of West Germany's triumph in 1990. One quarter of those interviewed said Germany would reach the quarter-finals at best, while 15 percent felt the hosts would exit at the group stage. Optimism was high after Germany reached the semi-finals of the 2005 Confederations Cup but friendly defeats to Slovakia and Turkey coupled with a narrow 1-0 win over China have left supporters fearing the worst. The draw for the World Cup finals, running from June 9 to July 9, takes place in Leipzig on December 9 with Germany seeded as hosts.