Students of architectonics will lap up the Franken-Stadion's design. Unique among this summer's World Cup venues, the arena is octagonal - although the pitch regrettably remains rectangular. The price of a lick of paint (plus 5,500 extra seats, a press centre, executive boxes and a two-storey car park) stands at £30million in Germany, but it looks money well spent by the city of Nuremburg and the Free State of Bavaria.

Aesthetically a naturally good-looking stadium, the pitch has been lowered 1.3metres to allow supporters, who are separated from the pitch by a running track, an improved view of the playing surface. A wise move, which will be appreciated come World Cup time.

The stadium, like many built in the early 20th century, also has its Nazi links. The 'Hitler Youth' would march in their tens of thousands in the Franken-Stadion during the mid to late 1930s. Each September would see Hitler's infamous Nuremburg Rallies in the city.