Frings missing but Germany remain confident



Germany are on the verge of something big and an entire nation sits on the edge of its collective seat.



In Dortmund at 9pm on Tuesday, when the first semi-final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup kicks off, coach Jurgen Klinsmann's men will know that only 90 minutes stand between them and the Final. That and the not so small matter of an Italy team who beat the hosts 4-1 in a friendly in March, banishing at the time all talk of a home win at this tournament.



"We still have the scars from that game," admitted an honest Torsten Frings on Monday, albeit while simultaneously laying down a challenge with the more forthright comment: "We owe them one." The 29-year-old defensive midfielder has had an excellent tournament so far, but will be missing from the semi-final line-up.





在星期二的晚上9点多特蒙得，2006年世界杯第一轮半决赛将开战。

克林斯曼领导的德国队知道只有90分钟的时间还有他们是否可以进入决赛。在三月份的时候意大利曾以4：1击败东道主。



星期一弗林斯承认："在那场比赛中我们仍然心有余悸"这位29岁的德国中锋，至今都保持了出色的表现，但是将缺席接下来的半决赛。



Frings received a two-match ban from FIFA's Disciplinary Committee on Monday for the punch he aimed at Argentina's Julio Cruz at the end of the sides' quarter-final penalty shoot-out. Since he was provoked by his opponent, the ban for the second match is suspended for six months, though Frings also received a CHF5,000 fine. He will be replaced either by his Werder Bremen team-mate Tim Borowski or by 'local boy' Sebastian Kehl, who plays his club football with Borussia Dortmund.



It is somewhat ironic that the one team standing between Germany and their goal of reaching the FIFA World Cup Final are Italy, who were there when Klinsmann's outfit hit rock bottom back in March. In hindsight, the debacle in Florence could be seen as a crucial turning point, particularly by those who believe that the ups and downs of the journey do not matter, so long as you reach your destination. 国际足联纪律委员会今天通过了一项对德国球员托斯腾弗林斯的禁赛两场的处罚。基于他首先事受到对方球员的激怒的事实，第二场比赛的禁赛处罚将缓期6个月执行。根据2006年7约4日德国队在半决赛中的比赛成绩，弗林斯可以或者参加决赛，或者参加争夺第三名的比赛。纪律委员会还对弗林斯罚款5000瑞郎。这个决定是最终裁定。



纪律委员会裁定，在2006年6月30日德国队对阿根廷的4分之一决赛结束后，弗林斯对阿根廷球员朱利奥克鲁斯有击打动作。委员会认为，这种动作具有和攻击性动作一样的性质。



周日下午在电视上播放了弗林斯的动作后，国际足联纪律委员会开始对此事件的调查。作为程序的一部分，德国足协和被调查球员可以陈述并提供减轻处罚的证据。这项处罚断定电视图像清楚地表明弗林斯攻击了克鲁斯。德国足协和弗林斯本人都不能对这样的客观事实提出反驳。


关键字:世界杯足球
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