Any supporters hankering after Munich's Olympic Stadium might consider taking in a match at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, named after the great German motor vehicle manufacturer whose influence is felt in a city driven by the industry.

Like that ground, VfB Stuttgart's pitch is surrounded by an athletics track which has been cited in Germany as the cause of a lack of atmosphere, keeping fans back from pitchside, but the stadium is multi-purpose and proud of its status in that respect.

Among athletics fans, the stadium is remembered for staging the 1986 European Championships and 1993 World Championships. It was in advance of the World Championships that a spectacular roof with semi-arched panels was fitted, covering the previously open 'bowl' arena which staged matches at the 1974 World Cup and Euro 88.

The stadium is also notable for having hosted the first Germany international following the unification of East and West, a a 1990 match against Switzerland.

Subject to a £30million update in 2004, some of that work will go unnoticed to the casual observer, but access has been improved, new video screens installed, and 5,600 extra seats added in a second tier to the main stand.