Germany book 2010 World Cup accommodation

HAMBURG - Captain Michael Ballack and his teammates have found their 2010 World Cup base camp in the form of a five-star hotel halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, the German football federation DFB said Wednesday.

The DFB said that Germany will set up its camp in the Velmore Hotel in Centurion and travel to its matches from there, provided that the three-time champions qualify for the World Cup.

England, Australia, Mexico and South Africa were reportedly also interested in staying at the Velmore Hotel as many teams are set to settle their World Cup accommodation early.

Qualifying runs until November for the June 11-July 11 tournament in South Africa.