There was more trouble with English fans back home than here. Police in London and Liverpool reported scuffles among fans watching the game on public viewing screens, though neither incident was described as serious.

Back in Germany, there were no reports of trouble at the later games: the surprising 0-0 tie in Dortmund between the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden, and Argentina's 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in Hamburg.

Not that all Germany was conflict free.

In the western industrial city of Gelsenkirchen, the day began with a far-right political rally.

About 230 supporters of the National Democratic Party were outnumbered by left-wing counter-demonstrators. Police separated both sides, though counter-demonstrators shouting "Nazis Out" managed to pelt NDP supporters with tomatoes. There were no arrests.

Such confrontations are routine in Germany _ though in the run-up to the World Cup, a spate of attacks on nonwhites increased concerns over racism.

The rally "does damage Germany's image because of the World Cup," said counter-demonstrator Gerd Hebisch. "But you can see that there are at least 10 times as many demonstrating against their views _ we don't want them here."