Michael Ballack

Germany's key man

German midfielder Michael Ballack celebrates scoring his team's only goal against South Korea in their semifinal match at Seoul World Cup stadium for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, 25 June 2002. Ballack's goal put Germany on top as they beat South Korea 1-0 and will meet either Turkey or Brazil in the World Cup final in Yokohama 30 June. AFP PHOTO/Pascal GUYOT

Michael Ballack is the outright star of German football and national coach Jurgen Klinsmann has built his World Cup team around the Chelsea midfielder's complete game, strong leadership and a goal per two games ratio on the international stage.

He was already a key figure at the last World Cup in Asia where he inspired Germany all the way to the final.

Suspension denied him a place in the final itself against Brazil, but such was his influence, the result (2-0 to the Brazilians) may well have been different had he played.

German midfielder Michael Ballack (2nd R) scores his team's first goal against South Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae as German Oliver Bierhoff (L) and Korean Yoo Sang-chul look on 25 June 2002 at the Seoul World Cup stadium during their semi-final match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO - EMMANUEL DUNAND

Ballack deliberately brought down South Korea's Lee Chun-Soo in their semi-final game, denying him a clear shot at goal when the score was still 0-0.

The referee reached for the yellow card meaning Ballack was out of the decider. The irony was that minutes later Ballack converted his own rebound to give Germany a 1-0 win.

The midfield colossus (1.89m), who switched to Bayern from Bayer Leverkusen following that last World Cup, was born in Chemnitz in East Germany.

Nightmares

Ballack left Bayern at season's end as London' Chelsea snapped him on a three-year deal to give him one last big contract and the likelihood of challenging for the Champions League title.

German midfielder Michael Ballack (R) vies against Korean Kyu-Seon Park 19 December 2004 at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, during their friendly football match. AFP PHOTO DDP/OLIVER LANG

Success had eluded Ballack who in his debut season with Leverkusen scored an own goal at Unterhaching on the last day of the season that deprived his team of the Bundesliga title, ruining his team-mates' hopes and finishing the game in tears.

Euro 2000 was another nightmare as Germany were sent crashing in the first round.

But the year of 2002 will remain etched on his psyche as the most agonising season of his life as he finished as a runner-up in four competitions.

Bayern Munich's striker Michael Ballack displays the Bundesliga trophy following their before-last match of the season against Nueremberg, in Munich 14 May 2005. It is the team's 19th win in the Bundesliga. AFP PHOTO DDP/ROBERT MICHAEL GERMANY OUT

Not only did he miss out on World Cup glory but had already lost in the German Cup final, finished second in the Bundesliga and more importantly lost 2-1 to Real Madrid in the Champions League final after a Zinedine Zidane wondergoal.

A move to Bayern Munich after that season finally brought some medals as they won the domestic double in both 2003 and 2005.

He had a chance to shine again on the international stage at Euro 2004 but cannot be singled out for the blame after a woeful campaign for Germany ended in first round failure.

Germany have a reputation for success at World Cups and with Ballack as captain and the 2006 edition on home soil, they cannot be underestimated.