The German retailers association said the World Cup likely generated 2 billion euros in extra sales. Electronics, sporting goods and food sellers most likely benefited the most, said Herman Franzen, president of the HDE group. “Overall, the retail sector may have seen the aimed-for euro2 billion in additional sales from the World Cup in the weeks before during, and after the tournament,” he said. Interestingly, the clothing industry was unable to keep up pace with the other retail branches, Franzen said, adding that the retail boost underpinned the organizations expectations of sales growth between 0.5 and 1 percent so far this year. Through the end of 2006, “long-stingy” German consumers should continue to up their spending on goods following a strong showing at the World Cup, which boosted nationalism in Germany for the first time in several decades.