Reuters
 
Berlin, Aug 3: A bench Germany used at the World Cup, one of Franz Beckenbauer's ties and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger's boots are among 4,000 items of World Cup memorabilia being put up for auction by FIFA.

World football's governing body are giving fans around the globe the chance to own a piece of football history.

"The first favourites are already emerging," said Jan Broeker, director at the auction house Dechow, which gives interested buyers the chance to inspect items and tender advance bids for their favourite lot over their Web site www.dechow.de.

"Demand has been highest for anything with an autograph on it," he added.

The auction includes a wide range of lots from German national coach Juergen Klinsmann's warm-up suit to players' sweat-stained jerseys, or even the 32 qualifying nations' flags hoisted during matches.

Even the potted plants that adorned the media centres at the 12 World Cup venues are being auctioned off.

"We even have the original goal posts from the opening game in Munich during which our squad scored four goals against Costa Rica," said Broeker.

The auction - the proceeds of which will go towards a range of non-profit projects - will be split in six locations where lots stemming from the surrounding World Cup stadiums will be sold.