Are Germany better without Ballack? (News Feature)

By John Bagratuni Jun 16, 2010, 9:57 GMT

Hamburg - Germany coach Joachim Loew has dismissed speculation that injured captain Michael Ballack was no longer needed in the team because it played better without him.

Loew told Wednesday's edition of the Bild daily that Ballack was still an important player.

Ballack, 33, is not at the World Cup due to an ankle injury. Germany won their opener 4-0 against Australia in impressive style Sunday as Bastian Schweinsteiger, 25, and Sami Khedira, 23, were excellent in midfield in Ballack's place.

There were some raised eyebrows after the match when Loew spoke only in the past tense of the former Chelsea player, but Dutch midfield star Wesley Sneijder and some media reports suggested that Germany were better off without him.

Loew said he did not share this view and dismissed the question whether Ballack was still needed.

'Michael has played many good games for Germany. It is correct that we have overcome his loss very well. But Michael is a player who has been important in big tournaments and decided games against big teams,' Loew told Bild.

'I knew that Bastian Schweinsteiger would take more responsibility. And it's really good how Sami Khedira is developing. But Michael would have been very important with his presence and experience.'

According to an online poll in Bild on Wednesday, 70 per cent of more than 12,000 respondents believe Germany is doing better without Ballack. Only 30 per cent said the team would be stronger with him.

The issue could become more pressing if Germany continue to play well against bigger teams, too, and advance far in the tournament.

In Ballack's absence, authority has been spread among several players, led by new skipper Philipp Lahm.

Capped 98 times, Ballack said he wanted to continue until Euro 2012 and was not ready to quit yet. He has never won a major title, was suspended for Germany's 2002 World Cup final loss to Brazil, and was a loser in the Euro 2008 final against Spain and in the Champions League finals in 2002 with Bayer Leverkusen and 2008 with Chelsea.

He now must also find a new club after not having his contract renewed at Chelsea. His advisor said Ballack wanted to continue playing at the highest level, and he has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United.

Ballack plans to visit the team in South Africa after the group stage, but team manager Oliver Bierhoff was quoted in Wednesday's Sport Bild as saying that they were managing without him.

Sneijder did not mince his words when he expressed appreciation for the German display against Australia, which received worldwide praise.

'Maybe it's an advantage that Ballack isn't there. Germany is better now, there's more speed in their game,' said Sneijder.

Some reports have suggested that Germany's fluid game would be impossible for Ballack, saying he slows down play and would not fit into Loews's system with the likes of Khedira (whom he described as a 'young Ballack') and 22-year-old Mesut Oezil.

Loew can not afford a Ballack discussion during the World Cup as it would only distract the team. And afterwards he may not care anymore because it is unclear whether he will stay on as coach.

Loew has shown in the past - by dumping Torsten Frings (Ballack's midfield buddy) and not recalling Kevin Kuranyi - that he doesn't shy from big decisions when players don't fit his system anymore.