Berlin bus driver hit for criticising Germany

BERLIN, July 5 (Reuters) A Berlin bus driver crashed into a parked car after being hit in the head with a beer bottle by a passenger who had disputed his views over Germany's defeat by Italy in their World Cup semi-final, police said today.

The passenger and the driver were alone in the bus travelling through southwest Berlin not far from the team hotel at about 2 a.m.

and were discussing the match Germany had lost 2-0 just a few hours earlier, police said.

''When the driver commented that the 'German players just weren't good enough', the passenger started insulting him,'' a police spokesman said. ''He then suddenly hit the driver in the head with a beer bottle.'' The driver temporarily lost control of the bus and rammed a parked Mercedes -- although the bus was only going at 30 kph (18 mph) at the time. The passenger opened an emergency exit and fled.

Police are searching for the man who was wearing a Germany team jersey with number 20, the same as Germany striker Lukas Podolski.

REUTERS AY PC1808