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 mooted for the UK), where the cheapest sex can be bought from the cheapest girls. Cologne has one of these zones at Geestmundestrasse, on the derelict outskirts of town. It's a truly weird place: the road dedicated to the prostitutes is protected from prying eyes by a vast green nylon curtain, yet the curtain has had holes ripped in it so voyeurs can peek at the sex-workers.
You might think these arrangements ample enough. Yet some German politicians are still worried that the supply of commercial sex won't meet World Cup demand. Cities such as Dortmund and Dusseldorf are consequently proposing to hand out free condoms to newly licensed prostitutes. Other towns are building "portable sex huts", where prostitutes can ply their trade.
Many of the girls are expected to be Eastern European; anecdotal
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reports say 40,000 women from the poorer parts of Poland, and beyond, are already pouring into the country, hoping to make a euro or two from cash-rich soccer fans.
Not everyone is taking this potential sex explosion lying down. Two weeks ago the Swedish Sex Equality Ombudsman demanded that
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the national team pull out of the World Cup, in protest at the misogynistic German plans for mobile cathouses. The Swedish FA batted away the idea, on the grounds that it would "disappoint the country".
In England, women's groups are worried about the ramifications for London 2012 Olympics; will the UK see a similar situation in six years' time?
In the shorter term, England play Sweden in Cologne on June 20 and in his crimson office on the top floor of the world's largest brothel, Armin Lobscheid is rubbing his hands in anticipation. "A man who has had sex is a happy man. We're not expecting any trouble from English lads. We are expecting profits." 
FIRST POSTED
APRIL 18, 2006
FOOTBALL FILE:
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Rooney's glorious failure
Why Beckham should be dropped
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