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Ribbeck's authority erodes German coach drops Jeremies for calling team 'pitiful'
Posted: Thursday April 06, 2000 04:22 PM
MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- German coach Erich Ribbeck slapped Jens Jeremies Wednesday with a one-match suspension after the Bayern Munich player said the national team was "pitiful." But Ribbeck's authority eroded even further when several players rallied around Jeremies, adding to the team's disarray two months before it defends its title at the European Championships. "Somewhere inside of them everybody is dissatisfied," said Bayer Leverkusen striker Ulf Kirsten. Ribbeck dropped Jeremies for the April 26 test match against Switzerland. But the coach has been forced to back away from threats to scratch the unruly midfielder from the championships for fear of a player rebellion. "Then, we would lose one of our most important players. I don't believe Erich Ribbeck can afford that," said Bayern Munich goalie Oliver Kahn, the team's undisputed No. 1 in the cage. "That our national team has problems is well-known," he added. Jeremies, 26 and an emerging star in the country, unleashed a storm when he said in the latest Kicker magazine that Germany hadn't played a good match in five years, while taking a slap at Ribbeck's tactics and leadership. "When you look at the national team over the past few years, when did they offer an outstanding game?" said Jeremies. "Nothing has changed nor improved. You have to ask yourself why things are not moving." Ribbeck said a 1-1 draw last week against Croatia, a World Cup semifinalist, refuted Jeremies' statements. "I'm of a different opinion. You can't say the 1-1 in Croatia was pitifully played -- we're on the right path," Ribbeck said. "By going public, Jeremies broke our code of honor. At anytime, he could have voiced his criticisms to me or at a team meeting." Ribbeck, who took over after Berti Vogts resigned as Germany's coach following the 1998 World Cup, has increasingly come under fire for a supposed lack of knowledge of the game. During halftime of a dismally played 2-1 loss to the Netherlands two months ago, Jeremies and captain Oliver Bierhoff took the unheard-of step in German soccer of changing the team's tactics as the coach watched silently. He also may face a challenge from the powerful Bayern Munich faction on the national team if he drops the well-respected Jeremies for the championship. The midfielder is not known as a player who courts publicity or causes trouble. "I don't understand the uproar. Everything Jens said is basically known," said Bayern Munich defender Markus Babbel. "I can only reaffirm that since the 1996 European Championships there hasn't been a good international played. Basically, he's right." Jeremies said the only way the team could do well at the European Championships was if it caught fire and got on a roll, which he found unlikely. And he said the team feared an ugly reaction from the German public if its national team made an early exit. "I don't event want to think about what will happen," Jeremies said.
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