World Cup Marketing Mania - from Voodoo to Vibrators

BERLIN (Reuters) - A voodoo doll with five pins and the national emblems of all your enemy teams. Toilet paper with World Cup trivia. Pork slices emblazoned with a soccer player dribbling down the field.

These are just a few of the unofficial World Cup-related items available in German stores and on German Web sites as merchants try to cash in on World Cup mania before the month-long international soccer tournament kicks off in Germany on June 9. The competition transfixes much of the world, and interest among Americans has been growing.

“Put a charm on your favorite team with this special set. It includes one voodoo doll, 34 national emblems and five needles. Weaken any opponents: Simply attach the emblem, stick in the needles and off you go,” the description says.