Nationalelf Receive An Italian Lesson

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Football again, something of a theme this week, but the German national team’s mauling at the hands of the Azzurri last night is such big news that it has even made it to the Guardian news blog, and when Germany lose 4-1 it has got to be worth a comment.  Could Germany get knocked out in the first round of the World Cup on home turf?  On the evidence last night, it’s definately possible.

The biggest problem last night in the game against Italy, apart from going behind so quickly that Klinsi’s masterplan - whatever it might have been - was out of the window before the game had hardly begun, was the complete absence of the best German player of the generation.  Michael Ballack might have been on the pitch, but he was completely anonymous for long periods of the game.  Now strikers can get away with this, Gary Lineker was famous for only touching the ball twice in ninety minutes but scoring two goals, but when you are the man the whole team is built around then you can’t afford to go missing.

Added to this is the fact that the German team is relatively young, and so it is up to players like Ballack (who was the captain yesterday) to lead by example.  But he didn’t seem to want the ball.  Compare this to the Robert Baggio of 1994, who almost single-handedly took an average Italy side to the World Cup final, or Steven Gerrard in last year’s Liverpool team that somehow won the Champion’s League despite the fact that they came 5th in a distinctly mediocre Premier League. 

One player, if good enough, inspired enough, can lift those around him.  Someone needs to take responsibility in the German team, especially when things aren’t going well.  That someone should be Ballack, but it seems more and more doubtful whether he has it in him.

Damn, I didn’t want this post to turn into a Ballack-bashing session.  I think he’s a wonderful footballer that could be one of the greatest.  And it shouldn’t be all doom and gloom for the German team either, they’ve got some great players, but they need a steadying hand in the midfield to keep the structure. 

I might be slightly biased, but there’s a fellow playing on Merseyside at the moment that knows how to hold the midfield, keep the ball, and allow his team-mates to play.  He might take some of that responsibility off Ballack’s shoulders and set him free. Come on Klinsi, give Didi a call.  Do you remember the second half in Istanbul?  That might be just what you need.

Oh, and Ballack to Chelsea?  I really want to like you Michael, but you make it tough!

On the Atari DJ Tapedeck: ‘Teenage Kicks’, The Undertones.

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Filed under Football, General, Germany, Sport, World Cup