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Wednesday, 8 May, 2002, 14:06 GMT 15:06 UK

The World Cups

Forget traditional scarves and pennants, the must-have accessory this summer is a World Cup bra.

The topical underwear - christened the 'Hat-trick' - has been designed by a Japanese lingerie company.

Special features include cups covered in netting and football-patterned padding.

The look is topped - or rather bottomed - off by a pair of shorts embroidered with a picture of a goalkeeper catching a ball.

But anyone who wants to get their hands on a Hat-trick set needs to be quick.

Manufacturer Triumph International Japan is only planning to issue a limited edition of 100 to commemorate the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, which starts on 31 May.

Millennium

Each set is priced at 17,000 yen (£90) and will be sold at department stores across Tokyo.

The Hat-trick is not the first novelty lingerie designed by Triumph.

Last year the company created a baseball bra, complete with fielders' mitts, as a tribute to Japanese Major League stars Ichiro Suzuki and Kazuhiro Sasaki.

And to celebrate the turn of the century, it released the Millennium Bra, made from pure gold and diamonds - a snip at 200 million yen (£1.1m).

One thing's for sure, any team whose fans are bedecked in World Cup underwear during matches will have difficulty keeping their minds focused.

It brings a whole new meaning to the term supporters.


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