The official soccer ball for the World Cup 2006 final is shown at the Chancellery in Berlin July 6, 2006. France will play Italy in the final on July 9 in Berlin. [Reuters]

Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer handed Chancellor Angela Merkel one of the special golden "Teamgeist Berlin" balls at a ceremony in the German capital on Thursday.

"With this, we can enter the final phase of the World Cup," Merkel said, adding that Germany had been a "wonderful host" for the month-long event.

Italy and France will play Sunday's final with the golden ball which, other than color, is identical to the black-and-white "Teamgeist" ball used throughout the World Cup.

Fifteen of the balls are being provided for the final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. Merkel's copy is destined for an exhibition on soccer at the chancellery.

Adidas' tournament ball, which has sold millions of copies worldwide, is "an ambassador for Germany in the world," she said.