Football: Ribbeck on the rack

GERMAN NEWSPAPERS reacted with shock and fear yesterday at the national team's 4-0 Confederation Cup defeat by Brazil - the team's worst defeat in 45 years.

"Herr Ribbeck, we can't be pushed around like that!" wrote Bild, the country's largest selling daily after shambles in Mexico on Saturday.

"We've reached a new nadir. Erich Ribbeck hasn't done a thing in the 10 months since he replaced Berti Vogts to get the team on track."

Ribbeck has four wins, two draws and four defeats in his 10-month tenure.

"Is our reputation ruined?" asked Berlin's BZ daily, which called Ribbeck the "least successful coach in German history". The paper said the team should be "ashamed of itself" for the loss to Brazil.