Vietnam Sacks German Soccer Coach

HANOI, Vietnam—The Vietnam Football Federation has fired German coach Falko Gotz after the country's Under-23 team's dismal performance at the recent Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

Gotz told a news conference in Hanoi on Friday he was surprised to see his two-year contract terminated early. He has been in the job for seven months.

Vietnam was defeated by host Indonesia in the semifinal of the SEA Games and suffered a humiliated 4-1 loss to Myanmar in the bronze medal match in late November.

Gotz defended his players saying they had done their best for the country.

Much of Gotz's long playing career was spent with Bayer Leverkusen and Koln before he moved into coaching.