- Germany will be deprived of their captain and midfield inspiration for the country's most important match in four years on Friday after Michael Ballack's calf injury stubbornly refused to heal in time.
It is hard to overestimate Ballack's influence on Juergen Klinsmann's young team, which includes three 21-year-olds in Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Per Mertesacker and the 22-year-old Philipp Lahm.
Of the 11 players likely to line up against Costa Rica for Friday's World Cup opener only four -- Christoph Metzelder, Bernd Schneider, Torsten Frings and Miroslav Klose -- have played in previous World Cups.
"Of course, we would have liked to have him (Ballack) in the team," coach Juergen Klinsmann said on the eve of the Group A kickoff in Munich. "He's our captain and our leader."
Ballack tackles well, has an eye for a subtle pass and is a prodigious header of the ball.
GREATEST ASSET
His greatest asset is the ability to drag the team out of trouble when they are playing badly, throwing himself forward to win a crucial header or provoke a penalty when it is needed most.
Those qualities persuaded Chelsea to sign him on a free transfer at the end of his Bayern Munich contract and he will be one of the highest paid players in the world next season.
Ballack was one of the outstanding forces at the last World Cup, improving with every game before a yellow card in the semi-final against South Korea cost him his place in the final.
Without him, Germany lacked their most dependable source of goals, as well as direction in midfield, and they were beaten 2-0 by Brazil.
Germans are all too aware of the importance of Ballack. For the last few days, television and newspapers have been fretting over what they have called "the country's calf muscle".
There have been some hints of criticism for his decision to wait two days before seeking treatment on the injury but Klinsmann was quick to forgive his leading man.
"Michael has underestimated the extent of the injury...but of course no one is cross with him," Klinsmann said. "Michael would give his right arm to be playing, so to speak."
Ballack will now concentrate on getting fit for Germany's other group games against Poland on Wednesday and Ecuador the following Tuesday.
It is hard to overestimate Ballack's influence on Juergen Klinsmann's young team, which includes three 21-year-olds in Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Per Mertesacker and the 22-year-old Philipp Lahm.
Of the 11 players likely to line up against Costa Rica for Friday's World Cup opener only four -- Christoph Metzelder, Bernd Schneider, Torsten Frings and Miroslav Klose -- have played in previous World Cups.
"Of course, we would have liked to have him (Ballack) in the team," coach Juergen Klinsmann said on the eve of the Group A kickoff in Munich. "He's our captain and our leader."
Ballack tackles well, has an eye for a subtle pass and is a prodigious header of the ball.
GREATEST ASSET
His greatest asset is the ability to drag the team out of trouble when they are playing badly, throwing himself forward to win a crucial header or provoke a penalty when it is needed most.
Those qualities persuaded Chelsea to sign him on a free transfer at the end of his Bayern Munich contract and he will be one of the highest paid players in the world next season.
Ballack was one of the outstanding forces at the last World Cup, improving with every game before a yellow card in the semi-final against South Korea cost him his place in the final.
Without him, Germany lacked their most dependable source of goals, as well as direction in midfield, and they were beaten 2-0 by Brazil.
Germans are all too aware of the importance of Ballack. For the last few days, television and newspapers have been fretting over what they have called "the country's calf muscle".
There have been some hints of criticism for his decision to wait two days before seeking treatment on the injury but Klinsmann was quick to forgive his leading man.
"Michael has underestimated the extent of the injury...but of course no one is cross with him," Klinsmann said. "Michael would give his right arm to be playing, so to speak."
Ballack will now concentrate on getting fit for Germany's other group games against Poland on Wednesday and Ecuador the following Tuesday.
