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Don't blame Germany's Michael Ballack for being image
conscious.
The 25-year-old Bayer Leverkusen star is still trying
to prove to German supporters that he is the man to
lead the country back to soccer glory.
After all, this is the same midfielder that tore up
the Bundesliga with 17 goals, helping Leverkusen to
a second place finish in the German league and the Champions
League final. He's also the same player who scored six
goals in nine World Cup qualifying games - making him
Germany's top scorer - leading the squad to a berth
in the 2002 tournament.
Ballack's skill and scoring have never been in question;
however, his apparent lack of toughness has. The six-foot-two,
lanky playmaker has endured his share of criticism from
German fans more acclimatized to the hard-tackling,
direct play of national teams of the past than the finesse
game that Ballack brings.
It might also be that Ballack's effortless scoring
and composed on-field demeanour, combined with his good
looks and sense of style earned the scorn of German
fans who prefer their players to be a little more rough
and tumble.
"I can't help it -- I was just born with that
style," said Ballack. "I've always been criticized,
but I can live it. I've played well before, but the
difference now is I'm consistent. That's the secret.
"I think it's just maturity, experience you get
after years of playing in the Bundesliga, Champions
League and national team."
Ballack's style of play is often described as "elegant,"
for his deft touch and skill on the ball. The gifted
up-and-comer already has the ability to change the outcome
of a game, and Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmoeller already
rates him among the greatest who have ever donned Germany's
colours.
"He has a chance to be the best German player
ever," raved Toppmoeller. "I've played against
Beckenbauer, Guenter Netzer and Wolfgang Overath and
you name them, but Ballack is the most complete player."
Much to Toppmoeller's dismay, Leverkusen will be without
him next season. Bayern Munich signed Ballack and plan
on using him as a replacement for captain Stefan Effenberg,
who is leaving the team.
His role on the German World Cup side is especially
crucial in this tournament as the country's other creative
midfielders, Mehmet Scholl and Sebastien Deisler, are
out with injuries.
Though his style contrasts sharply with previous German
squads, Ballack hopes his performance in qualifying
- and his play in the Bundesliga, where he played much
of the season with a severely bruised foot - might allow
him to captain his country's team. That would naturally
promote more comparisons with the great Beckenbauer.
With files from Associated Press
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