Nuremberg

The Games

Sun 11 June (1700): Mexico v Iran (Gp D)

Thu 15 June (1700): England v Trinidad & Tobago (Gp B)

Sun 18 June (1400): Japan v Croatia (Gp F)

Thu 22 June (2000): Ghana v USA (Gp E)

Sun 25 June (2000): 2nd round (1st Gp D v 2nd Gp C)

In the 19th century Nuremberg became an important industrial town, and home to Germany's first railraod. In its darker days the city was a center of nazi activities.

What's the vibe? The jewel of Germany. Beautiful walled medieval city with winding cobbled streets, marketplaces and dozens of churches. The river splits the old city in two, with an upmarket shopping district forming the south side.

Catch the match: The Franken-Stadion is next to the old Nazi Party Rally Grounds, which makes for an eerie juxtaposition once a crowd of 37,000 start chanting football songs. A 10-minute walk away is the official fans' area with screens.

Miss the match: Nuremberg spearheads Germany's commitment to opening up about its Nazi history. Visit the courtroom where the famous war-crimes trials took place (Further Strasse 110), or the Documentatin Centre at the rallying grounds (Bayernstrasse 110) which examines the cult around Hitler and Nazi propaganda.

Halftime snacks: EU-protected sausages are the order of the day - and unless there are three in a bun and they're finger-sized, it's not the real deal. The locals smother them with sauerkraut. Lebekuchen is the local gingerbread.