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Joachim Löw Says Michael Ballack’s Days as Capitano Are Over!
Published: June 27, 2011
Michael Ballack—now 34 years old—was the feisty "Capitano" of the National team who dominated Germany's midfield for more than 12 years.
He will forever hold the record for most goals scored by a midfielder wearing the prestigious black and white jersey—a mind-boggling 42, netted in 98 appearances.
This tally puts him very close to those of accomplished strikers and Germany-legends Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Jürgen Klinsmann and Rudi Völler, who were all, in their time, liberated from defensive duties to concentrate chiefly on putting the ball over the goal-line.
So his personal achievement carries even more weight.
Spending most matches positioned deep in defensive midfield and ordered to primarily win balls—to tackle, run down and stifle opposing attackers—it was always amazing to see Ballack race up field to score.
It is often forgotten that Ballack rose to international stardom in a period Germans like to describe as dark—the trophy-less era from 1998-2004.
Aside from keeper Oliver Kahn, Ballack was the sole standout player on a national team deemed mediocre, with only Germany's World Cup 2002 final appearance in South Korea deserving an honorable mention.
Alas, football fans around the world will no longer see the standout player on Germany's National team.
Joachim Löw has predictably announced that he will no longer nominate the former captain, a decision that shocked nobody after a rejuvenated Germany played a successful 2010 World Cup tournament without him.
It is a plausible decision which has, nonetheless, led to a media frenzy in Germany after Ballack attacked the team-manager for consistently "lying" to him about his future prospects with the Na...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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