"Usually we start at 7a.m. We have a voluntary practice for about 45 minutes, then a quick breakfast. At 8:30 or 8:45 there's a mental training unit and at 9:30 we head to the field. The first part is 60 to 90 minutes of physical training and then another 60 to 90 minutes of tactical training on the field."

No, that's not the national soccer team's daily schedule. Markus Merk has another job: He's a World Cup 2006 referee.

The men behind the whistles

Merk is one of 21 referees and their assistants currently stationed at a five-star hotel near Frankfurt. Though many of them come from participating countries, like Germany, Mexico and Argentina, impartiality is the name of the game.

When not calling fouls and handing out yellow cards, Merk works as a dentist. He has twice been named World Referee of the Year.

Great expectations

The selection of World Cup referees began in January 2005. Refs are required to bring physical, mental and tactical expertise to the game.

They can't be older than 45 and they're also expected to look good. FIFA has taken care of the fashion issue by providing new referee jerseys in red, yellow and dark grey.

In return for meeting these high expectations, the referees are well compensated -- in addition to their 33,000- euro ($41,500) salary for one month of World Cup games.

"We go on excursions with them to the Rheingau and show them a bit of the area," said hotel director Jens Martin Schwass. !They want to see how beautiful the Hessian region is."

German hospitality

Massimo Busacca, a referee from Switzerland, agreed.

"Free time is very important since we work a lot during the day," he said. "We need some relaxation to be ready for the next day."

The atmosphere at the referees' Frankfurt hotel is apparently quite friendly. Head concierge Michele Skinelli said the hotel employees and the refs are like one big family.

"I speak Spanish, especially with the South American referees," she said. "It's easier and we can chat about more personal things. That's really nice."