Tracker

British newspapers have savaged Englands World Cup squad and called upon coach Fabio Capello to quit after elimination by a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Germany.

British media lashes team

LONDON: British newspapers have savaged Englands World Cup squad and called upon coach Fabio Capello to quit after elimination by a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Germany.The defeat was marked by a refereeing mistake that denied Englands Frank Lampard a goal,sparking fresh calls for video replays. But the papers anger was mainly directed at the players and Capello. The Sun summed up the mood,devoting its front page to a banner headline: You let your country down. The back page read Times up Fab, and printed a photo of the players alongside the statement,Go-and take these losers with you!

Germany hails squad

BERLIN: Germany is hailing its young World Cup team after it eliminated arch rival England 4-1. The mass-circulation Bild daily headlined Mondays edition: Boys,we love you! Tabloid B.Z. opted for a single-word English headline: Yes! 8211; but couldnt resist adding That was the revenge for Wembley,. Frank Lampards disallowed goal on Sunday stirred German memories of the goal that put England on its way to winning the 1966 final 8211; one that Germans remain convinced never crossed the line.Thank you,football god! Bild commented. Now the English know how we felt the whole time.

PE Stadium,a white elephant?

PORT ELIZABETH: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium could become a white elephant when the World Cup ends after Port Elizabeths bankrupt football club was sold to investors from outside the city. Current team owner Sipho Pityana said Monday the new buyers could move the team.Bay United Football Club general manager Lungsi Mooi said that if the Premier Soccer League first division team moves outside the area the stadium would then not have a full-time tenant and that it could become a white elephant. The 42,486-capacity stadium was built specially for the World Cup and cost 1.2 billion rand 159 million.

Chile new Oranje: Cruyff

DURBAN: Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff says that Chile has taken over the Netherlands traditional role of most attractive team at the World Cup. Cruyff says in his column for Mondays edition of Dutch daily De Telegraaf that Chile has put together more attacking moves than the other 31 teams combined.Chile faces Brazil in the round of 16 and could meet the Dutch in the quarterfinals.

WC betting busted

HONG KONG: Hong Kong police have seized 22 million worth of illegal betting slips in a raid over the weekend as World Cup fever builds in the former British colony. Police found betting records in a hotel room and an apartment unit Sunday,the department said in a statement. Officers also arrested four men and seized seven computers,24 computer monitors and 10 mobile phones. The raid came just hours before the Germany vs. England round of 16 match 8211; a closely watched game in this hotbed of die-hard England fans.

Mexico mourns teams loss

MEXICO CITY: Mexicos exit from the World Cup was a merchandising disaster for local street vendors hawking flags,sombreros and vuvuzelas,but a relief for thousands of police who had been braced for raucous celebrations around the country. Fans were left to ponder Mexico again knocked out of the World Cup by Argentina 8211; this time a 3-1 loss. Four years ago,Argentina eliminated Mexico 2-1 at the same stage of the tournament. This marks the fifth straight time that Mexico has reached the last 16 of the World Cup 8211; and the fifth straight time it has lost.

French body president to quit

Story continues below this ad

Paris: French football federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes says he will quit later this week following Frances World Cup fiasco. Escalettes says he will submit his resignation on Friday at a meeting of the federations federal council. France was eliminated at the group stage in South Africa for the second consecutive major tournament under coach Raymond Domenech.