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Old 4th December 2008, 11:20
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julaklantih
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International career
Ballack celebrates a goal with Miroslav Klose and Oliver NeuvilleOn March 26, 1996, Ballack stood in the starting XI for the national U21 team's encounter with Denmark, shortly after signing for Chemnitz. In all, he played 19 matches for this side, scoring four goals. Then, following his move to Kaiserslautern, national coach Berti Vogts called him up to the senior team.

Ballack's first appearance, however, did not come until April 28, 1999, by which time the man in charge was Erich Ribbeck. Germany was playing Scotland on that day, and Ballack came on after sixty minutes to replace Dietmar Hamann. Bizarrely, the Bremen floodlights failed during the course of this match, yet this didn't turn out to be a bad omen for the rest of Ballack's international career.

Euro 2000 wasn't a bright spot for Germany (Ballack only played 63 minutes at this tournament), but the World Cup two years later in Japan and South Korea became a glorious tournament for the country - and primarily for Ballack. Until that time, he wasn't without his detractors, because he suffered the fate every exceptional player has to live with: as soon as Ballack put in a performance that wasn't of the highest class, he came under criticism from the press, while a great game was considered normal.

But the World Cup became a triumphal procession for Ballack. His three goals against Ukraine won the qualifying playoffs and made sure Germany would go to Asia, where he again proved to be the player who made the difference. Only his goals separated Germany from the USA and South Korea during the knock-out rounds and sent his side to the final. But what the experts lauded even more was his last-gasp effort to stop an opponent from scoring in the semi-final - in so doing he risked a yellow card but still didn't shy away from the tackle. That proved his leadership qualities. In the end, he was booked indeed and had to sit out the final.

Following Euro 2004, Jürgen Klinsmann replaced Rudi Völler at the helm of the national team and made Ballack the side's captain. In a warm-up in his home country, Ballack scored the fourth goal in the 4-1 thrashing of the USA in late March 2006 to prepare for the World Cup in Germany.

In his first 74 internationals, Ballack found the net 34 times. He wears the famous number 13 jersey of Germany which was previously worn by Gerd Müller.

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup he was unable to start in Germany's first game against Costa Rica due to a calf strain, but appeared in the second game against Poland, and assisted on a Miroslav Klose goal in the third group stage game against Ecuador. Ballack also played in the 2-0 second round victory against Sweden, a game notable for the fact that he took no less than seven shots from distance, but did not score. Despite not being at full fitness, he featured prominently in the quarter-final match against Argentina, where he provided the cross that led to Germany's equaliser, and later converted Germany's second kick in the Germans' 4-2 penalty shootout triumph after the game had finished 1-1 after extra-time. Ballack played in the semi-final against Italy, which Germany lost 0-2 in extra-time with just two minutes before the game would have gone to penalties. He sat out the third place playoff against Portugal due to injuries, but his team still won 3-1.

Ballack ended the 2006 World Cup finals with no goals and one assist. He was named Man of the Match in the games against Ecuador and Argentina, and was included in FIFA's World Cup All Star Team.

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