Togo first team to arrive in Germany for World Cup

Berlin, May 16 (UNI) Hoping to make their mark in ''The Greatest Show on Earth'', Togo became the first FIFA World Cup team to arrive here when they touched down in Stuttgart amid thunderous applause.

Herbert Rosch, president of the local Wurttemberg Football Association, together with German Football Association (DFB) match committee chairman Hermann Selbherr, greeted the Togolese delegation and some 70 reporters and 15 camera crews were present to cover Togo's arrival in the FIFA World Cup host nation.

Incidentally Togo has a German, Otto Pfister, as their coach.

''Obviously we're underdogs. But we can still make an impression at the World Cup. Our preparations are totally focused on our first match against Korea,'' Pfister said on his arrival.

The FIFA World Cup newcomers have been drawn against Korea Republic, France and Switzerland in Group G.

The team, however, could not make the most of their recent warm-up match against Saudi Arabia which they lost by a solitary goal in the Netherlands on Sunday.

The Togo team bus was painted in the national colours and all but star striker Emmanuel Adebayor of Arsenal boarded the bus amid much excitement from the local crowd.

Adebayor will join his team-mates after tomorrow's UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona in Paris.

The Hawks, as Togo players are known, meet a Bavarian regional XI in Aindling on May 23, before taking on either Costa Rica or Bayern Munich's reserve team on May 27 in Frankfurt.

The team then travels to face Liechtenstein in Vaduz on June 2, before a final warm-up in Wangen three days later against a regional select XI.

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