German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, hitching a ride to the World Cup final aboard Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's official plane, had high hopes his country could beat Brazil.

        He added, however, that whatever the outcome Sunday in Yokohama, Japan, the World Cup already was a “great success.”

        “I am hoping for Germany's success,” Schroeder said shortly after the plane took off from Calgary. “But I would also first like to say how happy I am to be on the government plane, and what an honor this is.”

        The honor was a first.

        According to Japanese diplomatic officials, Schroeder was the first foreign head of state to ride on the prime minister's plane.

        Both leaders were in Calgary for the Group of Eight Summit, where Schroeder suggested lightheartedly that he join Koizumi on the 10-hour flight back so that they could watch the final together.

        Japan took the suggestion seriously, and offered him a ride as a guest of state.

        Schroeder praised the way Japan and co-host South Korea have run the first World Cup held in Asia. He said he was particularly impressed with the hosts' hospitality and their “joy in the game.”

        Koizumi, sitting beside Schroeder at a conference table on the plane, said he was pleased the World Cup final was a matchup of “two first-rate teams, both with the experience of three or four victories in the past.”

        “It will be a great match for the whole world to see,” Koizumi said.

        After making brief remarks to reporters, the two leaders had a two-hour lunch together, and, along with pressing bilateral business, again discussed the World Cup.

        Schroeder told Koizumi the key to Germany's success in the final will be whether the squad can use its superior teamwork to overcome Brazil individual skills.

        Coming to Japan with Koizumi allowed Schroeder to send his summit staff home, thus saving money and time. His wife was flying to Japan separately to join him. Japanese officials said that after attending the final, to be held in Yokohama, Schroeder will return home Monday on his own official plane.

        Germany is the host of the next World Cup in 2006.

        ———

        NO PARTY: German officials scrapped plans for an outdoor party for about 2,000 German fans in Yokohama because they haven't received permission from local authorities.

        German team spokesman Harald Stenger said the federation tried for the go-ahead for a party before the World Cup final against Brazil, but local Japanese officials refused it.

        As compensation, the federation will organize a fan party before the Oct. 11 European Championship qualifying match against the Faeroe Islands in Hanover, Germany, Stenger said.

        ———

        JUST MISSING A MILLION DOLLARS: Nils Eie of Oslo, Norway, missed winning $1 million Saturday by inches.

        The 25-year-old Eie engineer beat 15 other finalists for the chance to take home the big prize by kicking a soccer ball through a 30-inch target from 12 yards away. He barely missed.

        Eie, who was coached by former Dutch captain Ruud Gullit, won a $10,000 consolation prize from sponsor Gillette. The finalists were selected from 70 contestants in 50 countries.

        “Mr. Eie put a good foot on the ball, but it just didn't have enough to go in the goal,” Gullit said. “I know from experience how difficult it is to convert such a kick under so much pressure and when there is so much at stake.”

        ———

        WEB WINNER: With 1.68 billion page viewings before the World Cup championship game, the official tournament Web site is the most popular sports event site in Internet history.

        Yahoo's FIFAworldcup.com is expected to surpass 2 billion page views by the end of the final between Brazil and Germany on Sunday in Yokohama.

        Of the total viewings, 51.6 percent were in English, followed by Japanese with 11.0 percent; German 10.4 percent; Korean 8.8 percent; French 6 percent; Spanish 5.3 percent; and Chinese 3.9 percent.

        FIFA credits the popularity of the Web site to the time difference in Asia and the fact this was the first World Cup with such substantial Internet capabilities.

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