Ballack cried after second yellow
Michael Ballack has admitted he cried in the German dressing room when it hit home that he would be suspended for the World Cup final.
Ballack appeared to be in total control of his emotions as he stood in the media mixed zone after Germany’s semi-final win, discussing his feelings at being ruled out of what should have been the biggest game of his life.
However Ballack, whose goal took Germany to a record seventh final, has revealed he had not been so composed inside the sanctity of the dressing room in the Seoul World Cup stadium.
He claims he now knows how Laurent Blanc felt when he missed the final of France ’98 because of suspension.
‘‘I was sad and I even shed a tear or two,’’ he confessed. ‘‘Anybody who has been a footballer will know how I feel.
‘‘Four years ago the same thing happened to Laurent Blanc and I felt for him when I watched him on TV.
‘‘It’s difficult to say how I feel now because I can’t really imagine what it will be like to only sit on the bench for the final.
‘‘Maybe only later it will really sink in what I’m going to miss.
‘‘Obviously I wish my team-mates every success in the final and I’ll be with the team on the pitch in my heart even if I won’t be out there with them.’’
Ballack picked up his second booking of the tournament for a cynical foul on South Korea’s Lee Chun-soo just four minutes before scoring the winner.
