Germany voted team of the year by nation's sportswriters

BERLIN, Dec 18 (Reuters) Germany's soccer team, who finished an unexpected third at the World Cup, were voted German team of the year by the nation's sportswriters.

Juergen Klinsmann's side, who went out after extra time in the semi-final against Italy, were clear winners of the annual award with 4,165 points.

It was the eighth time the national soccer team had won the honour, which was presented at a gala ceremony in Baden-Baden.

''They richly deserved to win this award,'' said Franz Beckenbauer, head of the World Cup organising committee and a former West Germany coach and captain, in the ceremony broadcast live yesterday. ''They showed everyone they were the boss at home.'' They last won the award in 2002 after reaching the World Cup final before losing to Brazil, and in 1996, when they won the European Championship.

Michael Greis, who won three biathlon gold medals at the Turin Winter Olympics, was voted Germany's sportsman of the year while Kati Wilhelm, who got one gold and two silver medals in biathlon at Turin, was selected as sportswoman of the year.

Greis had 3,126 points and beat Formula One's Michael Schumacher, who was second with 1,645 points. Wilhelm had 3,363 points to beat swimmer Britta Steffen, who had 2,980 points, after winning four European swimming championships in 2006.

REUTERS PDS BST0431