A sought-after colossus

German midfielder Michael Ballack celebrates scoring his team's only goal against South Korea in their semifinal match at Seoul World Cup stadium for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, 25 June 2002. Ballack's goal put Germany on top as they beat South Korea 1-0 and will meet either Turkey or Brazil in the World Cup final in Yokohama 30 June. AFP PHOTO/Pascal GUYOT

Michael Ballack's stock rose after a series of towering performances for the surprisingly successful German side at the 2002 World Cup made him one of the stars of the tournament.

Suspension denied him a place in the final against Brazil, but such was his influence that had he played, the result (2-0 to the Brazilians) may well have been different.

Ballack deliberately brought down South Korea's Lee Chun-Soo in their semi-final game, denying him a clear shot at goal when the score was 0-0.

Referee Urs Meier (R) of Switzerland hands out a yellow card to German midfielder Michael Ballack (2nd L) during their semifinal match against South Korea as German teammate Carsten Ramelow (L) walks past at Seoul World Cup stadium for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, 25 June 2002. Germany were leading 1-0 as play continues in the second half. The winner will meet either Turkey or Brazil in the World Cup final in Yokohama 30 June. AFP PHOTO/PASCAL GUYOT

The referee reached for the yellow card meaning Ballack was out of the decider.

German midfielder Michael Ballack (2nd R) scores his team's first goal against South Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae as German Oliver Bierhoff (L) and Korean Yoo Sang-chul look on 25 June 2002 at the Seoul World Cup stadium during their semi-final match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO - EMMANUEL DUNAND

The irony was that minutes later Ballack converted his own rebound to give Germany a 1-0 win over the co-hosts and book a date with Brazil.

The midfield colossus (1.89m), who now plays at Bayern Munich following a switch from Bayer Leverkusen following the World Cup, was born in Chemnitz in East Germany.

Football supremo Franz Beckenbauer at one stage criticised him for being too lackadaisical, but his committed and selfless attitude in Korea/Japan was the best possible response.

German midfielder Michael Ballack (R) scores the opening goal, beating Ukrainian captain Oleg Luzhny (C) while German Oliver Neuville (L) looks on, during the second leg World Cup qualifier soccer match at Westfahlen-Stadium in Dortmund 14 November 2001.

Ballack was superb in the two-leg 2002 World Cup play-off match with Ukraine when Germany had their backs to the wall, confounding his critics by scoring three goals in two matches, including the equaliser in Kiev (1-1).

In the return match, a header in the 4th minute, sent the German crowd wild and opened the way to victory for his team-mates, winners 4-1.

The nightmare of Euro-2000

He is the linchpin of the tactical game of coach Rudi Voller, his former director of football at Leverkusen.

Ballack wore the colours of Karl-Marx-Stadt (which has since become Chemnitzer FC) until 1997 before signing for Kaiserslautern.

With the Ruhr club, coached by Erich Ribbeck, he won the German championship in 1998 and it was during this period that he was called up for the national side for the first time...a 1-0 defeat at home to Scotland.

(FILES) Picture taken 01 December 2001 of Bayer Levekusen midfielder Michael Ballack during a German Bundesliga match in Bremen. European champions Bayern Munich have beaten off a host of clubs to capture the signature of the German international, both clubs announced 23 December 2001. The 25-year-old Ballack, whose contract with Bayer Leverkusen expires in 2005, put pen to paper on a deal worth 12.7 million dollars which will run to 2006 when he moves clubs at the start of next season. AFP PHOTO EPA/DPA FILES/CARMEN JASPERSEN

A few months later, Ballack signed for Leverkusen but in a campaign destined for the first championship in club history, he scored an own goal on the modest ground of Unterhaching, ruining his team-mates' hopes and finishing the game in tears.

German midfielder Michael Ballack (front) tries to control the ball in front of English midfielder Dennis Wise during the Euro 2000 group A soccer championship match between England and Germany in Charleroi 17 June 2000. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) EPA PHOTO /OLIVER BERG

For Ballack, who dreamed of playing for Real Madrid, Euro 2000 was another nightmare.

Although he did not play in the match against Romania, Ballack was selected for the crucial game against Portugal, but the Germans were swept away 3-0 and he was replaced at the interval.

The year of 2002 was another campaign of near glory as he finished as a runner-up in four competitions (World Cup, Champions League, German championship and German Cup).

A move to Bayern Munich in 2002 rectified that and he won the German title and Cup in his first season. Bayern though, drew a blank in the following season and Ballack has been accused of lacking authority.

Now he can help make up for his international disappointments if Germany can come up with the goods at Euro 2004 in Portugal.