Germany: Officials began the search for a new national team coach yesterday after Erich Ribbeck handed in his resignation following the humbling 3-0 defeat to Portugal and early exit from Euro 2000. Feverish media speculation centres on three names - Bayer Leverkusen trainer Christoph Daum, Benfica coach Jupp Heynckes and former Bayern Munich boss Giovanni Trapattoni. The head of the German Euro 2000 delegation denied at a news conference that Daum had already been approached.

Meanwhile, Germany's newspapers blasted the players and Ribbeck. "You are the idiots of football in Europe," headlined Bild. "Mega-humiliation," screamed Express and "Fiasco" lamented Neue Rhein Zeiting. Berlin's BZ newspaper was to the point with its comment: "German team commits soccer suicide."

Belgium: There seems no end in sight to the misery befalling goalkeeper Filip de Wilde. Already blamed for Belgium's early elimination from Euro 2000, UEFA have slapped him with a two-game suspension for his red card in the game against Turkey. De Wilde's two-game suspension will most likely start with Belgium's early World Cup qualification games.

Meanwhile, skipper Lorenzo Staelens has retired from international football. The 36-year-old with 70 caps said he wanted to devote more time to his club side Anderlecht.