Only three percent of Germans believe in World Cup win

BERLIN, March 15 (Reuters) Only three percent of Germans believe the host nation will win the World Cup, according to a poll to be released tomorrow.

Germany's 4-1 friendly defeat by Italy on March 1 means hardly anybody in the country would bet on a triumph by the three-times world champions in the finals starting on June 9, despite their proven ability to raise their game for the big occasion.

At the end of February, a similar poll had nine percent believing Germany would win the July 9 final.

As many as 17 percent of the 1,000 Germans polled by the Forsa institute for the Stern weekly believe Germany will not get past the first round, where they are grouped with Costa Rica, Poland and Ecuador.

That does not mean the local fans do not support Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann though, with 66 percent feeling he should stay in charge even if the national team lost their next warm-up game against the United States on March 22 in Dortmund.

REUTERS PDS BST1747