Ballack's future

Germany's Michael Ballack will consider his international future after next summer's 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. The Chelsea attacking midfielder, 33 in three weeks' time, has been the key player for his country for several years.Speaking ahead of Saturday's friendly with South Africa in Leverkusen, he said: "I will decide after the World Cup in 2010 if I carry on or stop."This will be a new situation for me that I need to think carefully about. In any case, I'll play as long as it gives me pleasure and I have ambition."

I will decide after the World Cup in 2010 if I carry on or stop. I'll play as long as it gives me pleasure and I have ambition.

Germany's Michael Ballack on his international future

Ballack's admission is unlikely to come as a surprise to Germany coach Joachim Low, whose side continue to hone their preparation for their remaining qualifiers with a game against Bafana Bafana at the weekend.The match comes four days ahead of a Group 4 qualifier against Azerbaijan in Hannover. The crucial games in the pool are in October, when Germany travel to second-placed Russia before hosting third-placed Finland.

Germany have been unimpressive in recent outings, and Low is expecting his side to rise to the challenge over the next few games. "I expect a much improved performance in Leverkusen and Hannover. We know exactly what caused the dip in the curve recently," he said.

Bayern Munich full-back Philipp Lahm is another who is hoping Germany can raise their level of performance when it really matters. "We have to get a grip on a few tactical things, both in attack and defence," he told Bild newspaper. "Otherwise we are going to have real problems in the World Cup qualifiers."

Germany edge closer to South Africa (fifa 2010)

Germany edged closer to securing a place at next year's FIFA World Cup finals with a comfortable victory over Azerbaijan in Hanover.
Michael Ballack opened the scoring with a penalty in the 14th minute, but Germany coach Joachim Low would not have been happy with the remainder of the first half as his side risked conceding an equaliser.

Their guests had Samir Abbasov sent off early in the second half and there was no stopping Germany with a one-man advantage. Two goals from Miroslav Klose and a Lukas Podolski strike sealed the comprehensive win which keeps Germany top of qualifying Group Four by a single point from Russia, who they meet in Moscow on 10 October.
After making his full debut in the 2-0 win over South Africa at the weekend, Mesut Ozil's name has become one of the first on Low's teamsheet and he showed precisely why he is one of Germany's hottest properties at the moment.

He left three Azerbaijan defenders stranded as he moved into a position to shoot in the seventh minute, but Kamran Agayev made his first save of a very busy opening 15 minutes.

The visiting goalkeeper was called into action five minutes later by Ballack, who tried his luck from long range before he was given the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot.

Podolski was fouled inside the area by Samir Abbasov and the Chelsea midfielder stepped up to send Agayev the wrong way from the spot and give Germany a 14th-minute lead.

The floodgates were expected to open and Mario Gomez should have added a second two minutes later when he had a free header from Ballack's cross, but Agayev made another save.

However, Germany lost their early momentum too quickly and even risked conceding a goal before the interval when Olexandr Chertogan tested Rene Adler from long range. Adler tipped his shot over the crossbar before making a more difficult save to deny Mahir Shukurov moments later.

Low brought Klose on at the interval and he made an instant impact, luring Abbasov into a foul which earned the Azerbaijan captain his second yellow card of the evening in the 50th minute before the Bayern Munich striker doubled Germany's lead five minutes later.

He picked up the ball from Philipp Lahm before picking his spot past Agayev for a goal which will come as a major fillip to a player who no longer has a guaranteed place for club or country. The goal certainly did do Klose good, as he showed in the 66th minute when he provided an excellent finish to a deflected cross from Andreas Beck from just inside the six-yard box.

Podolski got in on the action five minutes later when he added the fourth after Ballack nodded Ozil's cross down to him inside the penalty area and Germany's first-half struggles had been forgotten as they looked capable of scoring on every attack.

Klose was denied his hat-trick when another effort was correctly ruled out for offside in the 73rd minute, but his two earlier goals had done enough damage to earn Germany a vital three points.

Michael Ballack 2010

Captain Michael Ballack says Germany need to raise their game if they are to seal a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Ballack's call to arms on Monday comes just over five weeks before the UEFA EURO 2008 finalists face Russia in a pivotal Group 4 qualifier in Moscow. Germany go into that 10 October clash leading Guus Hiddink's Russians, who have a game in hand, by four points.

"We have to singularly improve our level of play if we want to be a candidate at the World Cup," the Chelsea midfielder told German news agency SID.

It would be good if other Germany players could find their way to playing for big European sides. Germany didn't become world champions in 1990 by chance - seven of that side were playing in Italy.

Michael Ballack

He added: "First of all we have to qualify, but if we make it through Germany will be one of the favourites based on our commitment and our good organisation which compensate for certain weak spots - that's how we reached the final at EURO 2008."

Looking ahead to the Russia game Ballack said: "We have to play at the same level as we did in the first leg (2-1 to Germany in October 2008) and for the moment we're far off that."
Before Germany face Azerbaijan in their next qualifier on 9 September, they have a friendly against 2010 hosts South Africa on Saturday.

"We have to play two good games to show that our top spot ahead of Russia is justified," added the Germany captain, who went on to regret that none of his team-mates played for other major European sides.

"It would be good if other Germany players could find their way to playing for big European sides. Germany didn't become world champions in 1990 by chance - seven of that side were playing in Italy."

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