Grapevine: Schumacher Flat Out Behind German Team

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher will be looking for soccer scores to flash up on his steering wheel at the European Formula One Grand Prix on Friday.

Former champions Germany play the United States in a World Cup quarter-final that clashes with the day's second free practice session. Schumacher, a keen amateur player and fan, said he expected Ferrari to keep him informed of the score by the two-way telemetry message display system.

"Obviously I would like to see the match," said the four times World Champion. "There are reasons not to see the first part of it, then I will watch the rest."

He shied away from a match prediction, even though Germany are clear favourites. "There have been so many surprises already, anyone who tries to predict what is going to happen could be completely wrong."

The German used his private plane to rush home to Switzerland from testing in Italy last week to catch his team playing Paraguay in the last 16 and was also watching on Monday as the United States beat Mexico.

With a Brazilian teammate in Rubens Barrichello and English technical director Ross Brawn, Ferrari's World Champion will be staying strictly neutral during the day's other clash between Brazil and England.

Saturday's live televised qualifying session was rescheduled months ago to avoid a full-on clash with the soccer tournament in Japan and South Korea but there are no changes to Friday's practice sessions. Not all Schumachers are football mad however.

Brother Ralf, who drives for Williams, has little interest in the sport - along with many other racers - and said he would wait for Germany to get to the final before being swept away by the excitement.