Michael Ballack’s injury in Saturday’s FA Cup final was both ironic and damaging. Ballack was injured by Kevin Prince-Boateng a former German youth international who now features for Ghana, Germany’s final Group D opponent. Adding to the irony is that Boateng’s brother Jerome will likely be on Germany’s final 23 man squad.
Ballack is Germany’s heart and soul. The leader of a team that has undergone a transformation in style in the past several years, Ballack has stood out among his peers. His missing the World Cup is above all a personal tragedy. Ballack was suspended for the World Cup Final in 2002, after leading Germany through the tournament undefeated, and was so close to getting Germany to the final in 2006. Additionally, after a great Euro tournament, he was sub-par in the 2008 Final vs Spain, which Germany lost.
Bastian Schweinsteiger is now likely to assume the leadership role vacated by Ballack, much as he has done for European finalist FC Bayern. Mesut Ozil also now looms large as he will now need to track back more, while continuing to be the spark plug on the German attack. Lukas Podolski saw some time in the middle of the pitch behind forwards Cacau and Stefan Kiessling in last week’s friendly vs Malta and he could help cover for the loss of Ballack.
Ultimately whatever Joachim Low does tactically to replace Ballack, his leadership and heart will be impossible to replace. That alone may cost Germany the chance of winning a World Cup hat from my vantage point was within their grasp.
This will be a blow to Germany, but to the other countires this can only be great news. I know many England fans who are rejoicing at this news.
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In my first year of truly following the European football, I’ve seen these types of prognoses at several times and yet players make it back sooner than originally diagnosed. Any chance Ballack could be added to that list?
Great reporting. Germany vs. Ghana is not the first group game but the last. June 23rd. At least try to get the facts straight.