Pastry chefs are prepared to turn out batches of scones and Irish soda bread. "The decision was based simply on our service," said Marc Brett, the hotel's director of sales.Īt the Sheraton Tara Hotel in Parsippany, the staff stocked up on Irish bacon, sausage and black-and-white pudding in honor of the Irish team, which will stay there. Nine months ago, the German contingent, anticipating play in the quarterfinals, decided that the Hilton at Short Hills would suit its needs. "Its seclusion encouraged concentration on practices." The team will be closely followed by the Saudi royal family, including King Fahd and his sons, Prince Faisal and Prince Sultan. "The site selection was sold as a package," said Amr Aly, the World Cup's liaison to the team. The Saudi Arabian team, which was the first World Cup team to arrive in this country, chose to practice for a month at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and stay at the Marriott Seaview Resort in Absecon. "Choosing a practice facility was driven by what hotel accommodations were available nearby," said Bob Reasso, Rutgers University's soccer coach, who had a hand in the selection of World Cup training fields. Unlike the training areas, where many of the offerings were similar, the ambiance of the hotels varied widely from a 670-acre resort set on coastal woodland to a 67-room hotel nestled in Somerset's rolling hills. WHILE schools competed to be selected as World Cup training sites, hotels close by prepared for scouting visits by World Cup officials.