Word: ballack
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Dates: during 2002-2002
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...Yokohama, to watch the showdown between the two sides who are best at what they do. Resourceful creativity versus flawless organization and execution of a plan. Personally, I prefer Ronaldinho's genius and Rivaldo's magic touch to Kahn's mountainous presence and Ballack's surgical strikes. But the Yokohama gods may see differently. After all, what do I know? But the very fact that the final is between this Brazilian and this German team, both of whom were judged prior to the tournament to fall far short of the standards set by their illustrious forebears, is testament...
...better coached American team took the game to the Germans from the outset, with 20-year-old Landon Donovan creating several chances in the first 30 minutes. He forced German keeper Oliver Kahn to demonstrate his world-class rating. Although Germany broke through with a classic header from Michael Ballack in the 36th minute, the U.S. never retreated, forcing their opponents to defend deep and sometimes desperately in the second half. "Those guys really put pressure on us," said Ballack. "They really deserved to be in the quarterfinals...
...inflamed left thigh of Zinedine Zidane. His torn leg muscle, an injury incurred during a friendly against co-hosts South Korea, means the French superstar will sit out his country's first two games. He joins a pre-Cup E.R. crowded with fallen warriors, including Germany's Michael Ballack, Italy's Filippo Inzaghi, and England's David Seaman and Kieron Dyer. By conservative estimates, the total value of damaged goods on crutches for the World Cup exceeds $200 million. Most got hurt on the field, but in a final proof that the foot bone is not connected to the head...
...Germany is another side that has seen better days. It spent the qualifying games struggling to find its feet, and it's still trying to figure out what to do with them. Coach Rudy VOller has lost Jens Nowotny to injury, but at least he'll have Michael Ballack and Dietmar Hamann to run the creaking German machine. Saudi Arabia, a perennial qualifier, isn't a threat to Germany, but Cameroon's Indomitable Lions are another story. They are the reigning Olympic and African champions. Still, Cameroon is looking long in the tooth. The other team in this group...