The Hindu : Sport / Football : Ballack warns his team against complacency

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 02, 2006

Sport

Sport - Football

Ballack warns his team against complacency

FRANKFURT (Germany): The World Cup is over.

That's what Germany captain Michael Ballack has told his teammates ahead of their opening qualifying match for the 2008 European championship, against Ireland on Saturday in Stuttgart.

``Some of the players have to be brought down from the clouds they've been sitting on since the wonderful World Cup,'' the Chelsea midfielder said. ``It's time to get back to reality.''

Germany is still riding the euphoria of unexpectedly reaching the semifinals at this year's World Cup, during which millions of fans enjoyed a month-long party in public viewing areas across the country.

Automatic berth

As host, Germany had an automatic berth in the tournament.

It's different this time. ``We have many young players who have never played a qualifying campaign. Qualifying is something very different from a World Cup at home, that was a gift to us. Now, we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground, otherwise we'll be in for a nasty surprise,'' Ballack said.

Coach Juergen Klinsmann left after the World Cup, leaving the team to his assistant Joachim Loew, who led Germany to a 3-0 rout of Sweden on his debut in August.

When he took over, Loew said his goal was to win Euro 2008, when the tournament will be co-hosted by Switzerland and Austria.

But Ballack warned against complacency.

``Our first goal has to be to qualify for the European championship and that will be hard enough,'' Ballack said. ``Away games against Slovakia, Wales or Ireland are not going to be a piece of cake. Once we have achieved that goal, only then can we say we want to win the title.

``I am sure we can qualify, but you never know what can happen.''

Ballack, who missed the game against Sweden because of a hip injury, is likely to play a defensive role similar to that he had during the World Cup.

Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder, the two central defenders, are out with injuries and Germany's shaky and inexperienced defence has to be reshuffled again.

Two defenders, Malik Fathi and Manuel Friedrich, made brief debuts against Sweden, and a third, Alexander Madlung of Wolfsburg, is a rookie. Hertha Berlin's Arne Friedrich has had a stomach ailment.

Germany and Ireland last played during the group phase of the 2002 World Cup and drew 1-1. Robbie Keane, the Tottenham striker who scored the equaliser, is back. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport