Frings may miss out as FIFA looks at video

GERMAN midfielder Torsten Frings may miss out on his country’s World Cup semi-final clash with Italy tomorrow, as FIFA announced yesterday that it is to decide whether to punish the influential midfielder.

FIFA made the announcement after an Italian television channel showed a clip of the German appearing to strike Argentinian striker Julio Cruz after the quarter-final. The governing body has asked the German federation to give their side of the story by early this morning, with a verdict to be handed out later today.

The referee and FIFA officials were caught up in the melee after the penalty shoot-out, with punches and kicks appearing to be thrown in scenes which lasted 90 seconds.

Better news for the Germans on the injury front: Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose will both be available for selection when Germany clash with Italy in the World Cup semi-finals tomorrow night in Dortmund.

The influential duo picked up calf problems in the dramatic shoot-out victory over Argentina, and while Ballack defied the pain and played through cramps, Klose was forced to leave the pitch in the 86th minute, shortly after cancelling out Argentina’s lead with a well-placed header.

The good news continues for Germany as their stars have already secured the biggest World Cup bonus in the country’s history by reaching the semi-finals of the tournament.

Ballack and company pick up a cool €100,000 each for reaching the last four after the penalty shootout win over Argentina. If Germany beat Italy in tomorrow’s semi-final in Dortmund, each player will collect €150,000 as a reward for reaching Sunday’s final.

A €300,000 jackpot is on offer to every player should they help lift a fourth World Cup crown on home soil.

It is more than three times the €92,000 German players would have collected if they had won the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea; Germany reached the final on that occasion before losing 2-0 to Brazil.