German captain looking to capture first major title

By Nesha Starcevic
the associated press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.25.2008


TENERO, Switzerland — Michael Ballack is two wins away from capturing his first major title.
The 31-year-old German captain is at the summit of a distinguished career and the European Championship title would be a fitting crown.
"I am very calm. All us see a great chance to be in the final and win the title," Ballack said Tuesday. "It's up to us."
First, however, Germany has to get by Turkey in today's semifinal match in Basel, and Ballack expects a "very strong" rival despite the injuries and suspensions that have ravaged the Turkish team.
"They know how to adjust to opponents and that shows they are very strong mentally," Ballack said Tuesday at Germany's training base before the team's departure for Basel.
"Their coach knows how to motivate them and they will be a very uncomfortable opponent. Hats off to them for reaching the semifinal, but we shouldn't overestimate them either."
In the quarterfinals, Germany beat Portugal 3-2 while Turkey equalized against Croatia with the last kick of extra time. Having gone behind in the 119th minute, Turkey went on to win the penalty shootout.
Ballack said Turkey would play a different style than Portugal.
"I expect them to be more defensive, I think we will have more possession. We won't underestimate them, for sure, we respect everyone and we expect a difficult job," Ballack said. "Turkey beat Croatia and we lost to it. There is no favorite."
In the group stage, Ballack had a solid, if average game, doing little in the 2-1 loss to Croatia. But he scored with a free kick in a 1-0 win over Austria to send Germany into the quarterfinals, then notched the decisive third goal against Portugal after one of the best performances for Germany in recent years. He has 38 goals in 85 games for Germany.
Ballack has not had much luck in finals at the club level. He lost one Champions League final with Bayer Leverkusen and another with Chelsea last month, a penalty shootout against Manchester United, which also snatched the Premier League title from Chelsea.
"I've all that behind me, it's good that in football you have new challenges all the time," Ballack said.
Ballack credits his good form to a full recovery from an ankle injury that had sidelined him for nearly eight months.
source : www.azstarnet.com