Half of Berlin irritated by World Cup, survey shows

BERLIN, May 10 One in two Berliners is irritated by the disruption caused by next month's World Cup, a survey showed today.

Pollster Emnid found 49 percent of the 1,008 questioned said the ''commotion'' about the World Cup was getting on their nerves.

The same number said the prospect of transport chaos and cordoned-off areas in the capital filled them ''with horror''.

However, the survey, published by the Berliner Morgenpost daily, showed 53 percent of residents agreed with a statement that they were ''looking forward to the World Cup matches''.

Women were less enthusiastic than men about the event, which Germany hosts between June 9 and July 9, although they were slightly more optimistic about the German team's chances.

Overall, respondents thought the squad coached by Juergen Klinsmann were more likely to be knocked out in the group stage than win the tournament.

Nearly one in five said Germany would fail to reach the second round. Just 15 percent forecast the host nation would be crowned world champions.

REUTERS