GERMANY legend-turned-scapegoat Lothar Matthaus has alleged that Liverpool players Dietmar Hammann and Markus Babbel urged him to help them depose coach Erich Ribbeck just 10 days before the start of Euro 2000. The defender used a German newspaper interview to finger the Anfield pair - currently also involved in a row over late-night drinking during the tournament - and midfielder Jens Jeremies as the prime movers of the plot. Matthdus said: "They wanted me to take over the squad before the competition started. However, I didnt want to get rid of the coach. I have no experience of coaching but I did call Franz Beckenbauer and asked him for his advice. Beckenbauer, who is leading Germany's 2006 World Cup bid, reportedly hit the roof when told of the ditch-Ribbeck campaign, ending any likliehood of it succeeding. The revelations, if true, would put any future German caps for Hammann and Babbel in serious doubt. The former is already in the doghouse after reportedly being spotted in a Cologne bar in the early hours of the morning following Germany's Euro 2000 opener against Romania and then participating in a 5am drinking session following their humiliating 3-0 defeat by Portugal.
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Who would ever suspect Hamann of being a self-serving, scheming rat with a massively inflated idea of his own importance?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Answers

The man's a toe-rag - no surprise's here.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000