FRANKFURT, Germany - From a distance, it looks like any other store proudly showing off its support for the World Cup. A giant photo shows bodies crowded around a goal, soccer balls scattered on the ground.

The bondage outfit next to the display is the first clue something is awry. And on closer review, the bodies in the photo are women naked only for skimpy bikini bottoms. Preserving the football motif at the sizable sex shop near the main train station, the tiny thongs are emblazoned with the Brazilian flag.

Score another one for the defending World Cup champions.

Sex may sell, but a touch of football doesn't seem to hurt, either. And German retailers have thrown their heart into the World Cup.

While FIFA may guard its World Cup trademark fiercely, there is no such watchdog over a mere ball or flag. So in addition to officially licensed souvenirs, there are plenty of alternatives.

For somone thinking of picking up the official FIFA 2006 cigarette lighter ($10.19 (euro7.95) ), how about an unofficial soccer ball ashtray ($19.16 (euro14.95) ). That takes care of any smoking needs for only a little more than an Elvis lighter back home.

A housewares store offers cooler sleeves for cans and bottles decorated with the flag of your favorite team. Sweets stores show off football suckers, and a knitting shop displays a hand-knit sweater emblazoned with soccer balls. A souvenir shop sells flag-emblazoned flip-flops at a bargain basement $5.13.

From pharmacies to weapons stores, there are soccer balls in shop windows.

The Galeria Kaufhof department store in Stuttgart is one-stop World Cup souvenir shopping. In addition to officially licensed shoes, socks, shorts, sweaters and hats, there is a sofa decorated in German colors ($284.49) and a World Cup monopoly set ($50.62).

At a nearby sports store, you can buy a German fright wig, an Australian scarf, Ivory Coast flag and Brazilian sweat bands for $38.45.

And if a fright wig isn't for you, there's a combination mullet-mohawk for $20.44.

German TV is also getting into the act.

Former national team players are making the rounds on a slew of shows, talking about the good old days and predicting what lies ahead. One talk show boasted soccer-motif bean bag-style chairs, which looked colorful if uncomfortable. One guest fell off his, but he may have been playing for laughs.

German games from past World Cups fight for air time along with pre-World Cup friendlies. Friday's Germany win over Colombia, meanwhile, was followed by somber post-game analysis that made a visitor think aliens had landed.

And Germany captain Michael Ballack is everywhere ¡ª scoring on a glorious header against Colombia on the back of McDonald's cups, or staring out from the cover of his autobiography.

Not all the World Cup TV talk is football related, however. A German station visited a brothel and interviewed a madam looking to take advantage of World Cup fever, with one of her employees modeling underwear decorated with soccer balls.