Does Germany need Ballack?
Michael Ballack, The Captain Charisma, has been the face of German football for quite a while now. Ever since WC 2002, one could feel German teams have been built around Michael Ballack. Now we are at touching distance with WC 2010 – The question one need to ask is does Deutschland really require Ballack’s services?
Ever since his move to Chelsea, Ballack has not been the force which we know him to be. Partially due to injury, but largely due to lack of form. Except for a brief period towards the end of last season and through the Euros – Ballack has not really been at his best.
When we look at the German setup, there is more than one option to replace Ballack – One could view Tim Borowski as a readymade option. He looks tremendous in a Bayern shirt and has deputized for Ballack brilliantly many a time for Germany. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Marko Marin are both capable of playing in the CAM role. Piotr Trochowski could be another name to consider. Podolski can also operate behind the strikers. Wish Seb Deisler was still around.
But the real question is – Is there another “Captain” in the Squad? Germany has been always blessed with characters in the side. Recent history would show the likes of Mathaues, Klinsmann and Kahn (Tempted to write Effenberg as well). But if anything the current squad lacks is a real driving force ( Except for Ballack). Miro Klose /Frings/Schneider/Metzelder all lack the charisma of Ballack. Lahm/Schweini could be the next option.
So IMO Germany would need Ballack as the motivator at the WC. There is plenty of talent to replace him as a player come Euro 2012. But the real challenge for the Bundestrainer would be to mould another charismatic leader.
So for now lets leave the No:13 as it is…
This post was written by Michael and originally published on Footbo.com, the social network for football fans.
thenks you
Ballack has the highest goal to game ratio for his country when compared to any midfielder in the history of football. Besides goalscoring, he is one of the most effective midfielders when building up in attack and is one of the strongest midfielders in defense. His strength and intelligence are unrivaled on the pitch making him one of the most effective captains in football. I have never seen a real lack-of-form in Michael Ballack, his effectiveness is greatly influenced by how a manager chooses to use him on the pitch. When Ballack is used in a the true CAM position, not RAM or LAM as with Chelsea, he is always in absolute top form. Right now, there is no replacement for Ballack in the German National team. However, in Ballack’s shadow stand the 23-year-old Lukas Podolski, whom I consider to be the most talented striker in the world. Though, right now with Bayern, he is used in the wrong roles on the pitch when he is used at all.
tyler, i wonder what germans would say about podolski as ballack’s “shadow stand”. one of the guys on footbo through out a list of potentials but podolski wasn’t one of them! ballack is definitely struggling to find his place in the midfield together with lampard and deco
Well i agree they totally need him cuz theres no one else to be a capitan and a leader.. but also because he can come up with some brilliant thing in the middle of the match and totally save them and when he is at his best theres no one with that quality (yet) in the German team… so yeah maybe he isnt at his best sometimes but stil he is a leader and can solve a match for a team.
Ballack has no replacement for now in the Germany team as a player and surely as a leader on the pitch
Just watch the last Finland game without him or the friendly against England !
Michael Ballack is the best football player ever. If Germany discards him, I will be forced to discard all my tickets for the Germany games at 2010.
Without Ballack the German squad is nothing, Ballack is the German squad!
This debate goes on doesn’t it? First it was “what was his ideal position?†then “is he a leader?†and now “does Germany need him?â€. With all due respect to other opinions, I think it is silly to say that Germany can do without Ballack. True, they’ve won games without him, but they truly don’t have anyone that steps into Ballack’s class, character or charisma. He will eventually leave the team, and then only, maybe like with Bayern the first season Ballack left them, will the Germans realize just how big a gap he leaves in that team.
Michael Ballack means so much to the German national team that this question should be scoffed at. Tyler is right- Ballack’s true position is in a CAM role, sitting behind a pair of strikers, but his versatility is nearly unrivaled. His strength on the ball and in the air render him a capable holding midfielder as well, which we’ve seen him play if John Obi Mikel is taken off for Chelsea for some reason. I don’t think I’d call his current play at the club a lack of form either, because he’s not playing the same role that he did with Bayern or with Lampard out of the Chelsea squad last season (when he really started scoring big goals). His current role, while not particularly glamorous, is to act as a conduit to transfer defense to offense by springing lampard and or deco- and he also has to hang back to help Obi Mikel because both of those guys are defensive liabilities when they make their runs forward. What happened to German against England without him? pathetic loss. What about Germany vs. Russia with him? Common, this is just a ridiculous question.
I was a bit worried by Michaels opinions until his last sentence. Couldn’t we all see Lahm as an option to captain the German side? Right. He looks like a schoolboy out on the pitch. Ballack shows when he needs to. His weakness: lack of motivation/laziness… but these are in games of little importance. When the stage is set for the big show, Ballack will be there to lead the Germans. He’s as important of a captain to the Germans as any other captain on the world class international level.
Ballack, no matter in Germany team now or in Munich, let alone in Chelsea, plays no improvement than in 2002 World Cup (new hope of Germany under Rudi’s management). Mourinho considered Ballack not a key player in the team while coaching Chelsea but still he earns over 100,000 pounds a week. Ballack shows intensions not only one time to end his career at Chelsea so is now lacking the driving forces for improvement. I personally think that Ballack’s peak time has passed and Germany should prepare for changing the era if winning 2010 world cup is still the target. Would it be too late?
“Form is Temporary, But Class is Permanent”
This is what i can tell. A Player of Michael Ballack always gives his Best at the Pitch. And it were the Injuries that affected him. And this season after coming up from Injury, he Looks Sharp. He doesn’t look Out of Form…….who the hell is saying that ?….Lampard, Deco nd Ballack all r doing well…..
and Germany can Actually win the WC 2010 under the Captaincy of Ballack……just watch it…
He has been a Runner-Up in all the Major Trophies in his Carrier. But WC will be his Last Tournament, and he has nothing but to give 200% to it…..
He can end his carrier with the Utimate Prize….
this is what I want…….
He is One of the Best Ever…..
if u still don’t believe it, then see the Goal he scored against Austria in EURO 08……Perfect mixture of Skill nd Talent…..
i guess thats Enough to Explain why Ballack is so Important…..
I think those questioning Ballack’s captaincy need to step back for a second and consider: a few short months ago Germany under Ballack as captain was runner up in a very competitive and well played Euro 08 and only lost to Spain, the #1 ranked int’l team, higher than even Brazil. Ballack made clear contributions throughout Euro 08, played injured during the final and note that the score in the final was 1-0 due to an amazing Fernando Torres goal. My point is that results are what really count and Euro 08 is the most recent results we have to go by. Ballack is a great player and leader and should remain Germany’s captain for WCup 2010 which is only a year and a half from now.