Special report:
2006 FIFA World
Cup
BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Germany have no chance
of beating Italy in the World Cup semi-finals according to recent history,
Germany captain Michael Ballack said jokingly yesterday.
"We lost 4-1 with Germany and 4-1 with Bayern in
Milan," Ballack said at a news conference.
"Basically, we've got no chance, have we?"
Ballack was part of the Germany team that lost 4-1
against Italy in Florence and lost by the same scoreline in the Champions League
with Bayern Munich against AC Milan.
Ballack seemed amazingly relaxed on the eve of the
semi-final in Dortmund and his comments raised laughs from the reporters and his
coach Juergen Klinsmann.
"Yeah, after those defeats it's a really great
feeling to have going into the semi-final," he added.
Speaking more seriously, Ballack said he was fully
fit and eager for the match to start.
"In the quarter-final we overcame a really big
obstacle by beating Argentina who were hot favourites to go all the way," said
Ballack.
"Now we've got our semi-final and we will be back in
Dortmund where the fans will give us some extra support.
"It will be by no means easy against Italy, but we
hope that we will be able to realise our dream."
Germany have never lost an international match in
Dortmund, winning 13 and drawing the other one of their 14 games there.
Four years ago, Ballack scored the winning goal
against co-hosts South Korea, but then got himself booked, thus picking up a
suspension and unfortunately missing the final against Brazil.
Before the 2006 World Cup finals kicked off, he was
supposed to be the one German who would leave a distinguished mark on the
tournament.
However, he has been left in the shade by the
brilliance of Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Philipp Lahm.
Perhaps Ballack, who didn't play in Germany's opening
match due to injury, has been biding his time.
After all, World Cup semi-finals are a bit of a
speciality for the 29-year-old midfielder when it comes to hitting the
headlines. Enditem
(Agencies)
