Michel Ballack: A Hero behind the lampstand
- Rashel Ahamed
- November 7, 2024
- Sports, Biography
- Ballak, Ballon D or, Champions leauge, EPL, Fifa World player ofthe year, Fifa WorldCup, UCL, World cup All star team, Zidane
- 0 Comments
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What is called ‘treble’, it is definitely not necessary to explain to any football fan. In European leagues, there are three main tournaments in a season – the domestic league, the domestic cup and the Champions League. A team that wins all three titles in the same season is called a treble winner. It’s definitely a tough job. This has only happened 8 times in the history of Europe, of which Barcelona is the only club to have won the treble twice.
Unlike the joy of the team that wins the treble, the sadness of the losing teams in the final is hidden. No one remembers failures. How would a team feel if they lost in the finals of three consecutive major tournaments? One such experience as a club was the 2001-02 season at Bayer Leverkusen.
They finished the league one point behind Borussia Dortmund, despite leading the domestic league by five points in their last three games that season. They then lost 4-2 to Schalke 04 in the domestic cup, before losing 2-1 to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Michael Ballack was a member of Bayer Leverkusen. What can be said about him?
Ballack was the second-highest scorer in the domestic league that season with 17 goals. He was also the 3rd highest scorer (6 goals) in the Champions League that season. Statistics show that there was no shortage of effort.
The World Cup was at the end of the season. Here Michael Ballack played for the German team to restore luck. But there are also runners. Despite doing his job well throughout his life, he could never bring the spotlight on himself. But most people probably don’t know Michael Ballack’s contribution in that way. This is what today’s article is about.
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During the 2002 World Cup, Germany was going through a transition. Since most of the players in the team were young, it took some time for them to adjust to the team. For Germany, Michael Ballack scored the most goals in the qualifying round, but they had to be satisfied with finishing runners-up in the group (3). Germany had to qualify for the play-offs. Michael Ballack played an important role in the game.
Shevchenko’s Ukraine, who were playing for AC Milan at the time, faced Germany in the playoffs. The first leg will be played in Ukraine. Ukraine took the lead in the 18th minute. Michael Ballack scored Germany’s only goal of the match in the 30th minute. 1-1 is not a bad result. But when the team is Germany, the expectations of football fans from them are a little higher.
That hope was fulfilled by Germany in the next round. Michael Ballack scored Germany’s first and last goal in a 4-1 win. It can be said that Balak single-handedly took Germany to the main stage of service.
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Ballak in the World cup 2022
Oliver Kahn was a key player for Germany at the 2002 World Cup. But the goalie can’t go too far. It is important for the playmakers to shine if they want to do well in any tournament. Michael Ballack was a German footballer. However, Balak did not come into the spotlight in the same way as there were playmakers like Zidane, Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Totti, Ortega, Veron, Paul Scholes, Beckham in that World Cup.
Germany started the group stage with an 8-0 win over Saudi Arabia. He also scored a goal in the match. How do you rate the win against Saudi Arabia? In the next match, Germany drew 1-1 with Ireland. They beat Cameroon 2-0 to advance to the second round.
Paraguay was a relatively easy opponent in the second round. Germany didn’t win 1-0. They will face the United States in the final. Ballack scored the only goal of the game. However, their biggest challenge came in the semi-finals.
Gus Hiddink’s touch changed South Korea in a surprising way in that World Cup. Despite having teams like Portugal and the United States in the group, reaching the second round as group champions can be considered a big success. But after beating two giants like Italy in the second round and Spain in the quarter-finals, Korea was no less favorite against Germany in the semi-finals. South Korea played in their own backyard.
In the 71st minute of the match, Balak fouled from behind to save a strong attack of Korea a little outside the box. The goal was saved, but Ballack missed the final with a yellow card (he also had a yellow card against Paraguay in the second round). Balak scored the match-winner in the 75th minute, adding to the regret of not being in the upcoming final.
Brazil was almost a perfect team in the 2002 World Cup. Even a full-strength Germany would have found it difficult to contain that Brazil, on which a weak Germany was further weakened by the loss of Balak. Balak was well ahead in the race for the best player with a maximum of 4 assists and 3 goals in the entire tournament (including the only goal in the quarter and semi-final matches). But in the selection of the best player of the World Cup, not only the skill of the player is taken into account, but also some points are deducted for a yellow card or red card. That is why Balak was not included in the list of three best players at the end of the World Cup. However, he was named in the World Cup All-Star team.
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Real Madrid showed interest in him after his outstanding performance in the 2002 World Cup. He joined Bayern Munich. He’s won three league titles and three league titles. He captained Germany at home in the 2006 World Cup. But in the semi-finals, his team lost to Italy by 119 and 120 minutes. Germany lost to Portugal in the third place match. Michael Ballack was also named in the World Cup All-Star team.
At the end of the 2006 season, it was rumoured that the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan and AC Milan were interested in Balak. However, Ballack eventually decided to move to Chelsea. At Chelsea, Ballack won a league title and three F.C.He won the cup.
Michael Ballack’s career ended at the 2008 European Championship. Germany lost to Spain in the final of the tournament. Michael Ballack is back on the All-Star team.
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Despite being a midfielder, 42 goals in 98 matches in Germany’s jersey testifies to his scoring ability. Despite reaching the finals of many major tournaments, his career has been plagued by injuries. Especially the World Cup, the European Championship and the Champions League.
He had to retire regretting that he could not win these tournaments in his career. If he could win tournaments, maybe the spotlight would be right on him. But very few people in this world remember the runners-up. Sadly, Michael Ballack may not be one of those few.
