• Michael’s Goal GO
• Match Highlights GO
• Match Report GO
• Pics  – comming soon (these I will add to the gallery or at least to the forum)

From Sky Sports.
Germany coach Joachim Low insists Michael Ballack has a long-term future at international level.

The Chelsea star is set to lead out his country at the World Cup in South Africa this summer, just a couple of months before his 34th birthday.

Low will then discuss future plans with the midfielder – insisting that the skipper can start looking ahead to Euro 2012.

“Michael Ballack can certainly play another few years at the highest level, but at the end of the day, he has got to be prepared to cope with the strains,” Low told Sport Bild magazine.

“We will hold proper talks after the World Cup to see how things look with him.

“First of all we have got to see how the World Cup goes.”

Ballack is in line for his 100th cap for his country this year, after representing Germany in the past two World Cups and European Championships.

MICHAEL SCORED

Chelsea (4–3-2-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry (c) (Alex h-t), A Cole (Zhirkov h-t); Ballack, Belletti, Lampard; J Cole, Malouda; Anelka.
Scorers Anelka 7, 63, Malouda 16, A Cole 22, Lampard 33, 89, Ballack 52.

Sunderland (4-4-2): Fulop; Bardsley, Cana (c), Da Silva, McCartney; Malbranque, (Zenden h-t) Henderson, Meyler, Murphy (Campbell 72); Jones, Bent.
Scorer Zenden 55, Bent 90+2.
Booked Bardsley 65.

Click HERE for the Match Report from Chelsea’s Official Site.

Translated by Me: sorry if there are any problems.

During November, Marie Claire asked on its site, who are the most gorgeous players in the world?. The german Michael Ballack won (and I dunno what estourado means). At almost 1.90 m height, dark hair, light eyes, strong face make him one of the cuttest players of the 2006 WC along with Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham. Today at 33, he is one of the most important players in the world and Chelsea FC. Ballack is married with Simone, with whom he has 3 kids with. She is considered in Germany the most mysterious wag (wives and girlfriends) of the football players.

Click HERE to read the original article from Marie Claire Brazil official site.

MICHAEL BALLACK reckons Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival as boss has galvanised Chelsea’s dressing room.
And the Germany international is confident Italian tactician Ancelotti can lead the Blues to their first Premier League title since 2006.

Midfielder Ballack, 33, says he and his team-mates have total belief in the former AC Milan coach. “I’m part of a team that is ready to start winning the big prizes again and it feels like we now have a manager who will bring stability to the club.

“We have had too many coaches during my time at Chelsea and that is not a good idea if you want success.
“Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and Luiz Felipe Scolari all came and went before Guus Hiddink had some time with us last season, but it feels like Carlo is here to stay and that has to be good news.

“This team has connected with Ancelotti and all the players believe he is a man who can work for us, which is a tribute to him because he has come into a dressing room full of highly experienced players who all have their own opinions and beliefs. ”

Click HERE to read the note at THE SUN, and here to read the note from Kevin Palmer at ESPN site.

As you may have noticed, I dont really update the site as it deserves to be updated, this is sometimes for the lack of time and some others for the lack of will…
Ive decided to put the site in Hiatus for a while… this is not a complete hiatus anyways since I will keep updating and dedicate a bit more to the forum and the rest of the networks. I just wont be adding news very offen here at least until the world cup gets close.

THANKS.

With information from The Telegraph.
The 33-year-old German midfielder’s current deal — a 12-month extension agreed last summer – expires in June and he said: “I think I can still play the next two years at the highest level with Chelsea. I have never thought of ending my career, whether at club or with the national team. I still aim to achieve great goals in sport.”

Ballack joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Bayern Munich in May 2006 and has had mixed success at the club, becoming one of the most influential players on and off the field but without winning any major trophies beyond an FA Cup and League Cup.

Click HERE to read the complete note.

From Betonworldcup2010.com

One of the biggest talking points ahead of South Africa 2010 is how capable the English team is to go far this time, and maybe even win it. When it comes to player quality at talent, there is no doubt they are among the top team, but truth is they haven’t won a World Cup since 1966 and they have constantly been under-performing in the last big tournaments.

Can new manager Fabio Capello make the difference this time? Well, this is what many believe, and the German captain Michael Ballack, playing in Chelsea, considers England one of the big favorites to win World Cup 2010.

“With Fabio Capello, they now have a manager who has brought stability. That is important and the team feels that.” Ballack says to german newspaper Rheinische Post.

He also talks about the self-confidence in the English players for the moment, and that they have players with “exceptional individual class”.

With regards to his own, the normally so strong, German team, they are struggling a bit for the moment and have fallen a bit behind.

Click HERE for the complete story.