End of the road for Ballack?
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Johannesburg - Michael Ballack's surprising departure on Monday from the German Soccer World Cup team in South Africa has heated up the debate whether he will ever wear the national team shirt again.
Ballack, 33, is the team captain but is carrying an injury, which was originally seen as a massive blow to Germany's bid for a fourth World Cup title.
However, the nation has stunned planet football by shaking off their image ranging from tanks to robots with fluid attacking football en route to a semi-final berth against Euro champions Spain, who they are fancied to beat based on current form.
Ballack's former Bayern Munich team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger has filled his role in central midfield to perfection - prompting praise from German icon Franz Beckenbauer who rated the 25-year-old as the best player at the showpiece.
Ballack got a first-hand view of the German team in Saturday's 4-0 demolition of Argentina. That came after a 4-0 drubbing of Australia in the group stage and a 4-1 rout over England in the Round of 16.
As much as he was probably happy about the success, he must have questioned his own presence in the team he played 97 times for, helped in a major way into the 2002 World Cup final and that of Euro 2008 as well.
Ballack scored crucial goals in 2002 and sacrificed himself for the team in the semi-finals with a professional foul against South Korea, which ruled him out of the final that Germany lost 2-0 against Brazil.
Ballack also scored the 1-0 winner in the Euro 2008 group stage against Austria, which kept Germany alive in the tournament instead of a third straight first-round exit.
Losing to Italy in the 2006 World Cup semi-finals was another major setback for Ballack, whose only titles came at domestic club level at Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
When Ballack was ruled out of the World Cup on May 16 over a ruthless tackle from Kevin-Prince Boateng, the German-turned-Ghanaian was the villain for an entire nation of 80 million.
But with every goal Germany scored in South Africa the tide has turned and now, according to Die Welt newspaper, 72 per cent of Germans don't want to see him again in the team.
Ballack and team officials said on Monday that he went home because doctors need to concentrate on the World Cup players and that Ballack can get in shape in a better way back home.
Coach Joachim Loew said he would be happy if Ballack returns for the final - if Germany get there.
Ballack himself has suggested that he wants to stay on until Euro 2012, if all goes well.
But Munich president Uli Hoeness had also, as "a friend," suggested even ahead of the World Cup that Ballack should concentrate on his club career - now at Bayer Leverkusen after English champions Chelsea released him.
As soon as he left on Monday the machinery went into overdrive, quoting current captain Philipp Lahm and others.
"Of course I don't want to give up the captain's armband again," Lahm was quoted as telling the Tuesday edition of the Munich dailytz.
"I will not volunteer to give it up. But that decision is with the coach."
Asked by the tabloid Bild whether the German team still needed the 97-times capped Ballack, Lahm said: "I am not the one who should answer the question with a yes or a no."
Schweinsteiger was quoted as saying that Germany may be stronger if he returns. A similar statement came from former Germany midfielder Bernd Schuster. Neither said Germany will be stronger.
Ballack was the undisputed team leader known respectfully as "capitano." But there was also an on-field row with Lukas Podolski last year and the youngsters at the World Cup seem to be perfectly happy sharing responsibilities with the experienced players in what appears to be more of a team effort.
Others have suggested that Germany's fast football only works without Ballack because he is said to prefer to slow down play in midfield.
Ballack named the victory over Argentina "scary," which should mean much more than the big win.
The website of Der Spiegel magazine was not the only one that suggested that "every goal that Germany score makes his return more difficult."
"Ballack's tragedy," said the Frankfurter Rundschau daily, while the website of weekly newspaper Die Zeit did not want to fully rule him out, even if reduced to a minor role.
"Right now the team seems to do quite well without him. (But) there will be moments, these dirty qualifiers in Baku and Astana ... When it gets tight in front of the penalty area, the might of Michael Ballack is still needed, his strength and his danger in front of goal.
"But the whole thing can only work out if Michael Ballack respects the changed hierarchy in the team. If he accepts his role as elder statesman. He can still help on the field but the days of the 'capitano' are over," Die Zeit said.
Whether Ballack accepts such a scenario remains to be seen after no one has suggested so far he will be welcomed back with open arms. But whether he is ready to exit as perennial runner-up is also open to debate.
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