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Cuba to broadcast all World Cup matches
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-06-09 17:03

Cuba's state broadcasters will broadcast all the matches in soccer's World Cup which begins on Friday in Germany, Cuban state newspaper Granma said on Thursday.

A state television channel will show 25 weekend matches live, and broadcast the remaining 39 after the matches have been played, while radio will have 55 of the 64 matches live.

Cuban television has been broadcasting programs on the Cup for several days and suspending for the moment the traditional Cuban worship of baseball, whose championship ended 10 days ago.

Cuba's only World Cup appearance was in France in 1938, when it scored 3-3 and then 2-1 against Romania, winning through to the knockout phase of the Cup, but was then knocked out by Sweden, in an 8-0 drubbing.

Cuba has never since won one of the three World Cup berths available in the Central America and Caribbean (North) Federation, losing this year to Costa Rica in the opening session.

Cuba's fans usually support Brazil in the Cup, and many believe the "dream team" will win its sixth trophy this year. Cuban youth are now wearing sports kit bearing the names of Brazil's stars -- Ronaldinho (Ronaldo de Assis) and Ronaldo (Nazario). French star Zinadine Zidane is also popular.

Because Cuba is a world class competitor in athletics and baseball, but nowhere to be seen in international soccer competitions, the government sent a team of football leaders to German soccer club Bonner to study the German game.