Gabriele Marcotti's daily diary: let's talk Ballacks - the guy is a superstar

3. No doubt back in England you're being inundated by wise and original statements like "You can never count the Germans out" and so on. After such an exhausting and thrilling match, I'm still letting it all sink in. But I do want to celebrate a guy who has been in the Premier League for two years and still gets treated more like a run-of-the-mill Anton Auslander than the superstar that he is.

Michael Ballack had a monster second half of the Premiership season and, against Portugal, was instrumental in Bastian Schweinsteiger's goal, before adding another of his own. (Yes, there was a cheeky shove on Paulo Ferreira, but you have to wonder why Ferreira was on Ballack in the first place). Granted, you would expect someone making £6.5m a year to carry his team through time. But, the fact is, many highly-paid stars either go missing or simply come up short when it matters. Not Ballack. Not last night.

2. You've probably heard by now that Khalid Boulahrouz, the Holland defender, lost his baby daughter who was born pre-maturely. He's back in the squad and every indication is that he will start against Russia tonight. Whatever the case may be, my thoughts go to the Boulahrouz family.  Football seems rather irrelevant at times like these. But perhaps it can help him to somehow come to terms with his pain.

1. So David Taylor, Uefa's General Secretary, has announced that the 2016 Euros may be comprised of 24 teams (up from the current 16). The proposal will be examined between now and Christmas. It's actually not a bad idea. Consider the sides who finished third in their respective qualifying groups: Serbia, Scotland, Norway, Republic of Ireland, England, Northern Ireland and Bulgaria. Plus the next best side in qualifying, say, Denmark or Ukraine. Would they drastically lower the level of the competition? Probably not. And, even then, the benefits of seeing more and diverse stars would greatly enhance the interest in the Euros. Plus, of course, the sponsors would be happy too. More games, more TV revenue, a virtual guarantee that the biggest TV markets (read: United Kingdom) will be involved... what's not to like?

Comments

[Brian]

The only truly mediocre teams in Euro ’08 were the co-hosts and the holders. While Scotland and Serbia might have added something, does anyone seriously believe that the crap offered by England, Norway or Bulgaria would’ve enhanced the tournament? This year’s Euros have been of great quality and excitement. Don’t water it down.

[Michael B. from Germany]

Thanx for your words kids. I like to play in England and i like the english people! See ya next season with the EURO-title!!

[David]

could not agree more about ballack, i wrote a comment on here at end of season that he was the player who helped chelsea step it up and got them in the CL final and in the League race, yet all we heard about was drogba,lampard and terry as usual, ballack was and is a man u can depend on in all situations, tactical,phyical and mental.

[william barlow]

Ballack like many of the Chelsea squad was a Manchester United target. I was very keen to have him but then I guess he had a word with Roman and it was lights out.

It has gotten so that MU must keep their player targets under wraps as it was beginning to look like Chelsea would counter just to keep our hands off them.

After some initial sour grapes I now have come to enjoy this unsought vetting.

If a talent wanted by MU turns down the most celebrated team in the world to go to Chelsea, good riddance.
He is obviously a tasteless mercenary that we are better off without..

[Zulfy]

Gab, I certainly agree Ballack is awesome. Mixes flair, creativity and technique with tenacity and willingness to do battle.

As for increasing the number of teams in the tournament; I think it's an absurd idea. England apart, the teams you mentioned that finished third (Serbia, Scotland, Norway, Republic of Ireland,Northern Ireland and Bulgaria) are plain mediocre. I bet if all these nations somehow formed an alliance and joined all their squads together, they still couldn't form a starting XI to challenge Germany or Italy.

[Des Duffy]

Whilst enjoying the current Euro 2008 and being pleasantly surprised by the lack of negative tactics the histrionics of the players after the slightest knock or tackle annoys me. Writhing on the ground akin to someone with a multiple fracture only to be up and running a minute later, the expression "big girls blouses" springs to mind, act like men you big jessies!

[Hugojaime]

Thank heaven someone else has commented on Ballack's feigning injuries and badmouthing refs. He's been doing it for years but this is the first time I've seen a written comment.

[Biscuitbum]

Increasing the number of teams involved is total nonsense. Where will it end. Why not do away with qualifying altogether, and admit teams like Andorra and San Marino, them we can have one massive free for all.

[Abdul]

24 teams not a bad idea. As long as the tournament is a straight knock out without group stages. that way you won't have repeat matches in the latter stages.

[J Clarkson]

Ballack, Schweinsteiger, and Podolsky are simply the best three players in the competiton. Like all Germans they can kick hard and accurate, and that is what matters, knowing how to kick. Football is a game of kicking, power and pace. But without kicking, you cannot play football. Dribbling is not enough. Possession thru passing is everything. The Germans proved that last night. England should train their players to kick better, harder, more accurate and faster, and pass more accurately. At this level if you keep losing the ball, you will be punished. Also defending too deeply when in possession is a bad thing. The backs need to strike forward. We should one day see Ferdinand and Terry striking through the middle as and when opportunities occur. Scoring goals is the key to success. England has a lot to learn. We can learn it from the Germans. Podolsky is a wonder player! The best German since Pierre Littbarski.

[Richard, Nottingham]

what's not to like? what's not to like? !!

The quality of the football for a start. Why should a bunch of also rans be included just to please the sponsors and increase the TV revenue - which I think will be just fine for Euro08.

In fact you could then ask why bother having a qualifying stage at all ? Europe isn't that big.

The current format is just fine as it is. The 16 best teams in Europe are producing the best and most entertaing football around. What's not to like ?

[Gordon]

Ballack is a great player, thats for sure. But he does more than other stars. To make oder prepare goals is necessary, but to work in defence too, to destroy enemys creative centers ... thats something very rare and thats why he earns nearly 10 Mio Euro a year.
A very strong performance in the last 2 games. Perhaps his first title???

[Scott M]

I disagree with extending the comp to 24 teams. You end up with the old world cup format where you play all those group games to only eliminate 8 teams.

[Andy Cross]

24 teams at the Euros would probably mean that England could qualify. And colleagues & friends would not take the p*** the whole time...

My sympathy goes to Khalid Boulahrouz and his family. Most things become irrelevant in such circumstances.

[Matt]

I think Ballck is one the greatest players in the world, he is a classical leader and chelsea takes so much profit of him. If he was English or of any other nationality he would gain much more respekt.

[Terry]

I agree with Malcolm re Ballack feigning injury and being abusive towards referrees. I would add also that Ferdinand, Terry, Gary Neville etc are probably even worse at the abuse and extremely aggressive with it. There is much to admire in the way we don't feign injury etc in Engalnd, but its a shame we are not respectful of authority of decisions that go against us.

[carlo Sartorius]

Ballack has been decisive to German soccer since Japan/SK 2002. He scored the most important goals, only the final against Brasil was lost , when Ballack missed due to a "necessary" yellow card foul. It was not only last night that he made the difference in a match.

[Carlito]

@Malcolm
Ballack has his chin high during a game,
but that´s just his confidence!
He´s a true leader and a fighter for his team.
What Malcolm posted up there reminds me more of crybaby Ronaldo...
How often did he "feign injuries" yesterday? None! He got kicked often, as Portugal tried to stop him, but that couldn´t hold him back. Some people just can´t deal with his character, cause they´re jealous of his confidence...

[Isa]

Well increasing teams from 16 to 24 will definitely make sure England qualify.. otherwise..

[Jotun]

24 teams in the Euro playoffs? UEFA has 53 members, that would give each team a chance of almost 50% to make it...where's the challenge in that?
The only reason is "religious", to worship the almighty €uro.
I don't think it's a good idea.

[Malcolm]

If Ballack stopped acting like a Drama Queen on the pitch, then maybe people would take him more seriously.

It is so tiring watching him feign injuries and fouls, falling to the pitch grasping parts of his body that weren't even touched.

Furthermore he questions each decision the referee makes against him or his team in a such an abusive, disrespectful 'in your face' way, he should be yellow-carded.

Yes, he's a brilliant player, but his attitude and sportsmanship is disgusting!

[Tim F]

Im not so sure 24 teams for Euro 2016 is a great idea. I think it would dramatically reduce the appeal of the qualifying competition when all the major sides have such a cushion available.