FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) - More than 400,000 orders were received on the first day on Tuesday that the 14,400 tickets for Germany's Euro 2008 matches went on sale, the German Football Federation (DFB) confirmed.

"In five hours 36,455 people ordered a total of 400,000 tickets. The DFB computer system was severely tested," the DFB said in a statement.

The online sale of tickets for the June 7-29 tournament, which got underway on Tuesday, will continue until midnight on February 12.

A draw will take place at the end of this period with a maximum of four tickets available per person per match in the first round.

"We expected such a response given the enthusiasm which the national team inspires at the moment. It's obvious that we're going to pass the million bar in the coming days," said DFB secretary general Wolfgang Niersbach.