美聯社科隆消息，儘管三賽皆負，但第一次參加世界盃的多哥隊卻十分善於吸引眾人的目光。單憑一個獎金問題就讓國際足聯忙得團團轉，多哥隊此次離開肯定會讓國際足聯的官員松一口氣。

　　就是這支來自非洲的球隊，他們的教練奧托普菲斯特曾因球員獎金問題在開賽之前宣佈辭職，隨即又及時歸隊，帶領多哥參加比賽。

　　國際足聯主席布拉特説：“在世界盃期間，我們決不允許一個球隊製造如此大的麻煩。多哥足協將聽候紀律委員會的處理結果。”

　　鏈結:http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-wcup-togo-wrapup&prov=ap&type=lgns

　　原文:Togo finally leaves World Cup after three straight losses

　　Togo finally leaves World Cup after three straight losses

　　By CLARE NULLIS, Associated Press Writer

　　June 24, 2006

　　COLOGNE, Germany (AP) -- Togo generated plenty of attention in its first World Cup appearance even if it did lose all three games.

　　That's why the departure of the West African nation was likely greeted with sighs of relief Saturday by FIFA, furious over the unseemly pay dispute that threatened to distract from the tournament. The African team, one of four from the continent making its debut at the tournament, also had its coach quit days before its opening match.

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　　Otto Pfister then returned to the bench in time to lead the Sparrow Hawks against South Korea. Togo took a 1-0 lead before losing 2-1. The team then lost to Switzerland 2-0 and France 2-0.

　　"We cannot tolerate a situation where a team participating in the World Cup creates such a kerfuffle," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Friday. "The Togo federation will be hearing from the disciplinary committee."

　　Togo, the lowest ranked team (61st) at the World Cup, created waves throughout the first round.

　　The Sparrow Hawks were the first team to land in Germany on May 15, giving Pfister time to get to know the players who were dispirited after their first-round exit from the African Cup of Nations.

　　But the row over money soon troubled the rural bliss of Wangen, where the team was based. The players trained only sporadically to press their demands for $200,000 each in bonus payments. Pfister, a 68-year-old who has spent much of his career in Africa, walked out three days before the opening match.

　　After the loss to South Korea, the players refused to get on the plane to Dortmund for the match against Switzerland. FIFA was forced to intervene, saying it would take over payment of the bonuses.

　　They played, and lost.

　　Against France, Togo's lack of experience showed.

　　Emmanuel Adebayor, the Arsenal striker who scored 10 goals to help Togo beat out Senegal in African qualifying, failed to shine. Although he frequently caught the defense off guard with his forays toward the goal, he played erratically and squandered his chances.

　　Mohammed Kader, who plays in France for second-division Guingamp, scored the team's lone goal against South Korea.

　　"Even just to play at the World Cup was a victory," Kader said.

　　Togo captain Jean-Paul Abalo missed the match against Switzerland through suspension and tried to bring much needed stability in the defense against France. Defender Ludovic Assemoassa tore ligaments in his knee in the opener and will be out for up to a year.

　　Goalkeeper Kossi Agassa saved the honor of his side in the final match by staging the performance of his life to block nine clear scoring chances.

　　"We were confronted by the ex-world champion and ex-European champion. It is the class of player who makes the difference," Pfister said.

　　But Pfister's choice of players was so limited that he twice fielded Richmond Forson, a young unknown who plays in the French amateur league. Many of the other regulars were from smaller European teams.

　　The veteran coach, who still has to decide whether to accept the federation's request to stay on even though its secretary general called him a drunkard and traitor, had kind words for his team.

　　"Togo has a lot of young players," Pfister said. "I think it has a future not just in Africa but in international football."

　　作者-丁曉晨-北京第二外國語學院英語系

責編：段曉冬