Merkel uses podcast for German pep talk

BERLIN, June 8 (Reuters) German Chancellor Angela Merkel released her debut video podcast today -- a pep talk for the nation that urges it to use the World Cup as an opportunity to show everyone the best sides of Germany.

''My dear fellow citizens. Now it's beginning. The World Cup kick-off is nearly upon us. Millions have been waiting for this moment -- not only in Germany, but across the world,'' Merkel says in the podcast, which can be downloaded to mobile multimedia players from her official Web site.

Merkel says she met with Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann and his squad, who face Costa Rica in the month-long tournament's opening match tomorrow in Munich.

''Every player is highly motivated and will -- I'm fully convinced of this -- do his best,'' Merkel says.

''And we should do the same too. You know that the fans are the 12th player on the team. We all want to show that Germany is capable of top performance. And not just in the soccer stadiums.'' She said the country should welcome all the fans from around the world, who Merkel says ''want to celebrate a big party with you, peacefully and happily''.

''And we'll show them what this multi-faceted country has to offer, culturally and in terms of sports,'' she said, adding that it would show that ''Germany is a cosmopolitan, modern and lively country''.

The World Cup is the most-watched global event and runs through to the final on July 9 in Berlin. The tournament's 64 matches will be held in 12 cities across the country.

REUTERS DH RAI2129