BERLIN, June 26: Millions of superstitious Germans who have watched their longshot side grapple and claw their way to the World Cup final are convinced the powers of a tiny talisman planted on the pitch are bringing good fortune. A “lucky penny” that has been buried on or near the field by journalists from Bild newspaper at every Germany match since a decisive World Cup qualifying playoff match in Kiev last year has gone unbeaten in its eight outings: six wins and two draws.

“Everyone in Germany believes in the magic of the ‘Glueckspfennig’,” said Klaus-Peter Witt, deputy editor of Bild newspaper that has kept readers regularly informed on the lucky penny’s status and whereabouts.

“We came up with the idea in the newsroom before the crucial playoff against Ukraine,” he added, referring to the two do-or-die matches in November. “We buried the penny in the penalty area there and it has worked like a charm ever since.”

Germany managed a 1-1 draw in Kiev before winning 4-1 at home to clinch a spot in the World Cup finals.

Bild, continental Europe’s best-selling paper with four million copies printed each day, put the penny (worth about half a U.S. cent) into a safe after the November playoff and did not put it back on to a field until the World Cup started.

With the penny on the field again when the World Cup began — buried five centimetres below the surface — Germany destroyed Saudia Arabia 8-0, drew with Ireland 1-1 and beat Cameroon 2-0 in the opening round before ousting Paraguay, the United States and South Korea by identical scores of 1-0 in the knockout stage.—Reuters