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© St. Petersburg Times, published July 2, 2002
FRANKFURT, Germany -- The German team arrived home Monday to thousands of screaming, flag-waving fans who turned central Frankfurt into a sea of black, red and gold.
Despite losing to Brazil 2-0 in the World Cup final, hundreds lined the streets from Frankfurt airport to the city center as team buses rolled by en route to the official reception at city hall. More than 10,000 fans packed Roemer square, overflowing into surrounding streets.
Even goalkeeper Oliver Kahn's mistake that allowed the first of two goals by Ronaldo seemed forgotten.
"We're back among the world's best," Kahn yelled, drawing a huge roar from the Frankfurt crowd.
"Maybe we'll see you in four years again -- this time as world champions."
The celebration came a day after hundreds of people around the country were taken into custody for vandalism or clashing with police after the game.
The worst outbreak of violence came in Hamburg's St. Pauli district as hooligans fought with police. Seventy-two people were taken into custody, though more than 60 were released Monday. Several people were injured, including a police officer who sustained a broken nose.
Elsewhere, about 100 fans rampaged through Duesseldorf, breaking windows and vandalizing cars and property, police said.
COACH FIRED: Saudi Arabia's federation fired coach Nasser al-Johar after the team was outscored 12-0 in three group games.
MARADONA RANT: Diego Maradona railed against Japan, lashed out at FIFA and dismissed the final as "mediocre."
Maradona said he did not deserve to be banned entry by the Japanese government, which initially refused to grant him a visa because of his past drug offenses before reversing its decision.
Despite his invitation to the final as a special guest of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, he accused the organization, with which he has had frequent disputes, of shunning him.
"FIFA officials say I'm part of the family. But I didn't get my invitation to the World Cup until the last day," Maradona said. "I have a lot of new ideas about soccer. But maybe FIFA doesn't want to hear about them."
Maradona, 41, called Brazil's victory a "mediocre" game and described the German team as the country's worst in recent memory. But he also said Brazilian striker Rivaldo and left winger Roberto Carlos were the tournament's best players.
When asked about his well-documented rivalry with Pele, Maradona said he, not Pele, should be remembered as the best player ever.
"The great things people say about me I can never give to him," Maradona said. "They're mine."
RATINGS: Sunday's final produced an overnight U.S. rating of 3.9 and a 16 share for the live telecast. A taped replay had a rating of 2.8 and 7 share. Four years ago, the Brazil-France final shown live in the afternoon had a 6.9 rating and 17 share.
OFF TO ENGLAND: Senegal's captain, Aliou Cisse, agreed to terms with Birmingham City, an English Premier League club. He had been with France's Paris Saint Germain.