Germany’s Vogts Resigns as Coach Amid Public Outcry
His position untenable under a growing public outcry, Berti Vogts resigned Monday as coach of the German national soccer team.
Vogts, who guided Germany to the 1996 European title but fell short in two World Cup campaigns, said he stepped down to preserve any “human dignity” he still had.
“I see no more possibility to carry on with the national team with the necessary strength and concentration under so much public pressure,” he said.
Vogts, under fire since Germany’s quarterfinal ouster at this year’s World Cup, quit after a telephone conversation with German soccer federation (DFB) chief Egidius Braun.
Vogts became coach in 1990, after Germany won its third World Cup, under Franz Beckenbauer.
A former international defender and a member of the 1974 World Cup title team, Vogts was Beckenbauer’s assistant.
Vogts endured severe criticism after Germany’s 3-0 loss to Croatia in the World Cup.
Resisting calls for his resignation, Vogts said he would stay to rebuild the team and attempt to defend the European title in 2000.
In what was supposed to be a new beginning, Vogts took the team to Malta last week for two exhibition games.
The trip instead turned into Vogts’ downfall: Germany barely beat Malta, a soccer weakling, 2-1, and escaped with a 1-1 tie against Romania.
Vogts returned home to face hostile headlines Monday.
All major newspapers united in suggesting the only way out of Germany’s soccer crisis was for Vogts to resign.
The Frankfurter Rundschau said Vogts had become “the symbol of the downfall of the national team.”
Vogts’ overall record in 102 games was 67-12-23.
Miscellany
Laurent Jalabert of France took the lead in the Tour of Spain after the third leg at Estepona, the most competitive segment yet in the three-week cycling marathon.
The stage was won by Estonia’s Jann Kirsipuu. He covered the 120-mile trek between Cadiz and Estepona in 4 hours 16 minutes 24 seconds.
Second was Germany’s Marcel Wust and third went to Italy’s Giovanni Lombardi.
Tori Murden of Louisville gave up her bid to become the first woman and first American to row across the Atlantic because of high winds caused by Hurricane Danielle.
Murden, 35, was rescued by a ship 950 miles west of her destination of Brest, France.
Her American Pearl, a 23-foot-long, 6-foot-wide vessel, capsized 11 times Sunday night, said a spokesperson for one of Murden’s sponsors. She suffered head and shoulder injuries.
The U.S. men’s and women’s eights qualified for the final at the World Rowing Championships at Cologne, Germany.
The American women had the fastest time of the two semifinal heats, 6 minutes 35.43 seconds, defeating Canada by 3.97 seconds.
In the men’s eights, Germany recorded the fastest time, 5:54.05, while the Americans won their heat in 5:54.89.
Gary Scelzi of Fresno drove to his second consecutive top fuel victory and third of the season, defeating Mike Dunn to the finish during the 44th U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis.
John Force, Mike Edwards and Matt Hines also won in their respective professional categories. It was the 16th of 22 events in the $30-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.
Scelzi covered Indianapolis Raceway Park’s quarter mile in 5.961 seconds at 282.57 mph, while Dunn slowed dramatically near mid-track and crossed the finish line in 8.456 at 100.21.
Horse Racing
Affirmed Success drew off to a decisive eight-length victory in Saratoga’s closing-day feature, the $200,000 Grade II Forego Handicap.
Affirmed Success, ridden by Jorge Chavez, earned $120,000 and ran seven furlongs in 1:21 2/5. over a sloppy track. Wild Rush, the favorite, was last in the four-horse field.
Falling In Loveagain, a 2-year-old filly, got away from the gate cleanly and sprinted to victory in the $2-million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, N.M.
Falling In Loveagain, a 20-1 shot ridden by G.R. Carter, earned $1,077,873 with the victory and ran 440 yards in 21.49 seconds.
It was an unprecedented seventh All American Futurity victory for trainer Jack Brooks.
