Hanover

The town that gave its name to a royal dynasty and hence the odd street and square in England especially is in the north of the country, inland from Hamburg. The local team, Hannover 96 (note the double n in the German spelling), have finished mid-table in the Bundesliga. The 96 refers to the year they were founded, 1896.

The stadium, AWD Arena, holds around 44,000. It will host four middling group games, followed by a last-16 match that should be Spain or Ukraine against Switzerland, upsets permitting.

Monday 12 June, 8pm, Italy v Ghana, Group E
Friday 16 June, 8pm, Mexico v Angola, Group D
Tuesday 20 June, 3pm, Costa Rica v Poland, Group A
Friday 23 June, 8pm, Switzerland v South Korea, Group G
Tuesday 27 June, 8pm, Winner Group H v Runner-up Group G

HANNOVER: THE BASICS - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW IN A NUTSHELL...

Getting Around
Hannover's Stadtbahn, a mix of underground and overland trains, makes it easy to get around the city. Tickets can be brought from stations or machines and are valid for two hours. There is no weekly ticket, but the HannoverCard gives you three days' free travel, as well as concessions at various attractions. If you're travelling less than three stops, save with a Kurzstreckenticket (short journey ticket), costing ż1.10.

Single ticket - 1.90 (Euro)
Day ticket - 3.50 (Euro)
3-day HannoverCard - 15 (Euro)


The Stadium
Niedersachsenstadion (45,000)

Hannover's old Niedersachsenstadion has been transformed completely for the World Cup 2006. Two years of building work, costing 63 million (Euro), have created a modern stadium that can hold 45,000 fans.

Home team Hannover 96 can look back on a roller coaster past of relegations and promotions ever since they won their first championship in 1938. Since 2002, 'the Reds' have been back in the top flight of the German league.

The stadium is centrally located, south of the train station and city centre, so you can easily walk there. Three of Hannover's underground lines run frequently to nearby Waterloo.

Get there from the Main Station
From the Hauptbahnhof (main station), underground lines 3, 7, and 9 serve the World Cup stadium. Get off at Waterloo. From here it's a five-minute walk down Waterloostrasse.

Get there from the Airport
Hannover Airport lies to the north of the city. The half-hourly S-Bahn 5 (train) takes you to the main station in 15 to 20 minutes.

Get there from the City Centre
The stadium is just a short walk away from the centre. Alternatively, catch an underground train (lines 3, 7 or 9) from Kröpcke (in the Old Town) to Waterloo.


TV Venues
Don't worry if you couldn't get a ticket. Hannover stages a huge Fan Fest on Waterlooplatz, just in front of the stadium, with a big screen and a stage for entertainment. Plenty of sports pubs show all the games too.

Big Screen: Waterlooplatz
Watch the action on a 60 square-metre screen on Waterlooplatz square, just next to the stadium, together with 20,000 other excited fans.

Open Air: Shogun
Enjoy the match on the huge screen of this party-minded beer garden on Arthur-Menge-Ufer, promising cold beer, barbecued food and an electric atmosphere.

UK Favourite: The Shakespeare
This friendly English pub on Gutenberghof has bitters, ales and stouts on tap and footie on two screens. When hunger strikes, check out the tasty pub grub.


Where to Stay
Thanks to the 2000 EXPO, Hannover is spoilt for choice when it comes to World Cup hotels. The well-located youth hostel is a cheaper option, and if you like fresh air, pick from several campsites just outside the city. Whichever you choose, be quick! Hannover tourist office helps with advance bookings for World Cup hotels (+49 (0) 511 12345 111).

Next-door Neighbours: Jugendhergberge Hannover
Revamped for the FIFA World Cup this friendly youth hostel sits in the stadium's shadow, surrounded by a sports park. The modern rooms have two to four beds.
Stadtbahn Station: Fischerhof/Fachhochschule
Address: Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Fricke-Weg 1, 30169 Hannover
Phone: +49 (0) 511 131 7674
Rates: 17.60 - 24.30 (Euro)
Web: www.jugendherberge.de/jh/hannover

Lakeside Life: Camping Blauer See
Pitch your tent near the lake at this campsite west of Hannover and take a swim between FIFA World Cup matches. A special bus connects you to Hannover's underground network.
Stadtbahn Station: Waldschenke
Address: Am blauen See 119, 30823 Hannover-Garbsen
Rates: 12 - 30 (Euro)
Web: www.camping-blauer-see.de

Right There: Hotel Mercure Hannover City
This World Cup hotel is right in the city centre, just 15 minutes' walk from the stadium. Masch Park and the Town Hall are on your doorstep.
Stadtbahn Station: Aegidientorplatz
Address: Willy Brandt Allee 3, 30169 Hannover
Phone: +49 (0) 511 800 80
Rates: Single 117-358 (Euro); double 138-358 (Euro)
Web: www.mercure.com


Where to Go
Pubs and beer gardens pepper Hannover, many of them clustering in the Steintorviertel quarter. Don't leave without trying Lüttje Lage. With a dark, fruity beer in one glass and a strong schnapps in another, the idea is to drink both at once - without spilling anything. After a few, you'll probably get the knack...

Home brews: Brauhaus Ernst August
The cavernous Ernst August brewery (Schmiedestrasse 13) is where Hannover's very own Hannöversch Pils is brewed, so there's plenty of fresh beer to wash down the hearty German grub.

Pre-game beer: Waterloo Biergarten
There's no better place for your pre-game beer than this chilled beer garden (Waterloostrasse), ideally located near the stadium and Waterloo underground station.

Late-night partying: Osho
Cult club Osho (Raschplatz) kicks off at 10pm and keeps going all night. With mixed music and a friendly crowd, this is the perfect spot for after-match partying.

Lower Saxon cuisine is a down-to-earth affair. Try hearty Hochzeitssuppe (chicken soup) or Calenberger Pfannenschlag (sausage), followed by sugary Welfenspeise (pudding). Greek, Chinese, Mexican and Indian food are all on the menu too.

Potato Heads: Kartoffelhaus
This inventive restaurant on Oskar-Winter-Strasse focuses on the humble potato, offering everything from soup to mash, plus an extensive menu of roasts and salads.

Cosy Café: Pfannkuchenhaus
Small Pfannkuchenhaus on Calenberger Strasse serves 40 different sweet or savoury pancakes. If you prefer to sink your teeth into something solid, try their steak menu.

Quick Bite: Alexander
In a hurry? Pop into popular Alexander on Prinzenstrasse. This local favourite serves tasty soups, salads and pasta till 3am


Philip Cornwall

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