Battered Ribbeck quits Germany job

Germany coach Erich Ribbeck has quit after last night's humiliation by Portugal saw the European champions dumped out of Euro 2000.

The German press has called Ribbeck's team "the cretins of Europe" for their dismal performance this month.

Germany lost two matches and drew with Romania to finish bottom of Group A.

Ribbeck was appointed at the end of 1998 after the resignation of Berti Vogts but he was the eighth choice for the job and was constantly criticised in the German media.

Now Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is to be approached to take over the national team and keep his club duties with Bayern as Germany try to rebuild before the start of the 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign in September.

If Hitzfeld refuses the offer then young coach Christophe Daum is the first choice with Giovanni Trapattoni and Juup Heynckes also in the running.

Ribbeck told his boss Egidius Braun last night after the 3-0 defeat by what was effectively Portugal's second team that he would not be taking an further part on coaching Germany after the end of his contract next month. The game in Eindhoven last night saw Lothar Matthaeus win his 150th cap but the 39 year old and many senior members of the squad are set to be axed before the 2002 World Cup matches come around.

Euro 2000 is the first time in 16 years that Germany have failed to qualify of the knockout stage of a major tournament.