Metzelder calls for display of German patriotism

BERLIN, June 11 (Reuters) The German public should join the players in a show of patriotism at their home World Cup, defender Christoph Metzelder said today.

German players linked arms and sang the national anthem with pride in the build-up to Friday's first World Cup match against Costa Rica in Munich on 4-2.

''It's a difficult issue because of the nation's past,'' Metzelder, renowned as one of the most intelligent and thoughtful members of the German squad, said at a news conference.

''But to be successful at the World Cup we need fitness, team spirit, luck and a large measure of patriotism.

''We are at home and want to show that we are playing for the crowd and for Germany as a whole. It would be great if the German public followed our gesture.'' The issue of public displays of patriotism was highlighted last year when renowned singers at two separate sporting events in Germany managed to get the words of the national anthem wrong.

The anthem used to begin with the line, ''Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles, ueber alles in der Welt'' (Germany above everything in the world), words that obviously took on a menacing flavour during the Nazi regime.

The anthem as sung now begins with the third verse, extolling: ''Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit'' or ''Unity, justice and liberty''.

Germany play Poland in their next Group A match on June 14 in Dortmund.

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