Germany v Poland - Preview

Returning Ballack aims to lead Germany into last 16

Boosted by the return of their inspirational captain Michael Ballack hosts Germany have the chance to book a place in the second round of the World Cup when they face Poland in Dortmund on Wednesday.

Ballack declared himself fit for the Friday opening match with Costa Rica, which Germany won 4-2, but manager Jurgen Klinsmann decided not to risk his calf injury and omitted him from the starting line-up.

"I came through training and am now looking forward to playing on Wednesday," Ballack said.

"We want to reach the last 16 and hope the fantastic fans in Dortmund can push us to victory," Ballack said.

"Poland are under pressure and there is a lot of discontent back home after their defeat to Ecuador so we should beware."

Poland lost 2-0 to Ecuador in their first match and if Germany can also taste victory over their neighbours they will become the first team to qualify for the knockout stage.

"Polish players know their public are not happy and realise it is all or nothing," Klinsmann said.

"They will be fired up to do everything they can to stay in this tournament. It will be a heated encounter."

Germany will field two Polish-born strikers in attack with Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, born in the Polish cities of Opole and Gliwice respectively, admitting the game will be an emotional occasion.

"It will be special and a bit strange to hear the Polish national anthem and then the German one afterwards," explained Podolski.

"I will not sing either of them because I feel at home in both countries. I have not quite lost my Polish heart."

Coach Pawel Janas admits Germany's attack is a concern but felt their leaky defence was a cause for optimism.

"They are a dangerous team when they attack and they score a lot of goals but the defence is not as good," Janas said.

Poland's star striker Ebi Smolarek, playing on the ground where he plays for club side Borussia Dortmund, will hope to prosper against the suspect German defence, but will be shackled by his club team-mate Christoph Metzelder.

Poland and Germany have met twice in the World Cup and the latter holds the upper hand.

At the 1974 World Cup hosts West Germany defeated Poland 1-0 in Frankfurt as they went on to lift the title.

Four years later in Argentina the two nations met again and the game finished 0-0.

In 14 meetings Germany have never lost against Poland - winning ten and drawing the other four - and Germany have also never tasted defeat in Dortmund.

Teams

Germany

Jens Lehmann, Arne Friedrich, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Torsten Frings, Miroslav Klose, Michael Ballack (capt), Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Bernd Schneider, Lukas Podolski, Christoph Metzelder: Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

Poland

Artur Boruc, Marcin Baszcynski, Jacek Bak (capt), Radoslaw Sobolewski, Jacek Krzynowek, Maciej Zurawski, Michal Zewlakow, Ebi Smolarek, Arkadiusz Radomski, Bartosz Bosacki, Ireneusz Jelen: Coach: Pawel Janas

Referee

Luis Medina Cantalejo (ESP)