Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack
Michael Ballackis a retired German footballer. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of the German national team. Ballack wore the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for except for Kaiserslautern. He was selected by Pelé as one of FIFA's 125 Greatest Living Players, and as the UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year in 2002. He won the German Footballer of the Year award three times – in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Ballack was...
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth26 September 1976
CityGorlitz, Germany
abroad advise against anyone hardly played
There is hardly anyone who played abroad that would advise against making this step,
signed
I have not signed anything and I was also not in London.
convert create european few games somebody
In European Championship games you don't usually create more than a few chances. You need somebody to convert at least one.
bad game pressure
This is like a game we have to win. The pressure has risen, which I think is not a bad thing.
limits germany aggressive
We have to be very aggressive, to go to the limit of what's legal.
soccer team play
But at [soccer] tournaments you tend to see novel, unanticipated trends coming through, with everyone watching each other like hawks and immediately copying anything new. What is really important for every team is to be aware of its own capabilities and find a style which plays to one's own strengths.
games leader colleagues
A leader on the pitch is someone who can turn a game in the right direction, he isn't someone who has a go at his colleagues after the match for everything they did wrong.
behind crowd fans forward great looking supported weaker
The crowd was unbelievable, they even supported us in our weaker phases. With such great fans behind us we are all looking forward to this World Cup.
champions crowd frustrated german naturally step stood took toward wall
The crowd naturally was frustrated when it was 0-0. They stood like a wall back there. But we want to be German champions and we took a step toward that today.
cope putting situation strain
I'm just concentrating on my football. I can cope with the situation very well. It's not putting any strain on me.
listen shame
It is shame Kahn is not around. The youngsters listen to him and look up to him. That is what I think anyway.