The Players

 

Oliver Kahn:

Oliver Kahn (born June 15, 1969 in Karlsruhe, Germany) is a German football goalkeeper. He plays for the German national team (since 1995) and Bayern München (since 1994). He is known as King Kahn or Kahn, the Titan for his prowess in the game. Kahn is a player obsessed by perfection, and trains fanatically. He is hyper-competitive and always demands 100% from himself and his teammates. On the pitch, he is a charismatic, dominant presence who leads his defense and intimidates the opposition.

His reflexes are stellar, his control of the box is excellent, and he excels in one-to-one situations. Because of his seemingly overambitious attitude in the field he is made fun of sometimes in Germany by some comedians, portraying him as a maniac gone wild. However, approaching age (and overcoming private problems), his game has declined slowly. He hit a nadir when he allowed a seemingly easy-to-save goal against Real Madrid in 2004, but since then, has recovered to become a worldclass keeper once again. He plans to remain the number one goalie under the posts of the German national team and play in the 2006 World Cup in his homeland Germany, although trainer Jurgen Klinsmann's choices, with him playing alternatively with Jens Lehmann and Timo Hildebrand, make the enterprise difficult for him. Kahn believes he can play at top level for three to four more years.

 

Michael Ballack:

Michael Ballack (born September 26, 1976 in Görlitz, then East Germany) is a German football player. He plays in central midfield for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga as well as in the German national team, which he has captained since 2004. Ballack was transferred to Bayern Munich from Bayer Leverkusen on July 1, 2002, for an undisclosed amount. Before that, he played for Kaiserslautern. Ballack shone at the 2002 World Cup, in which he scored three goals, including the lone goals in the quarterfinal win over the United States and, famously, in the semifinal win over South Korea, just after picking up a third booking, which meant he would miss the Final. Without him, Germany lost 2-0 against Brazil. Ballack also played at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004.

Ballack is known for being a versatile and well-conditioned player, equally at home in attack and defence, able to play in almost any position in the midfield. He made his name as an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, but Bayern Munich have recently employed him in a deeper role, where he has been able to direct play. He is regarded as one of the most lethal headers in the world but is equally competent with his powerful left and right feet. These attributes have earned him the German player of the year award on three occasions (2002, 2003, 2005), a feat surpassed only by German legend Franz Beckenbauer, who won the award four times. Accordingly, many experts consider him the most complete footballer in the world today. As of 2005, he is one of the prime German sports icons and the captain of the German national team that is seeking World Cup glory on its home soil. Reports suggest that a move may be on the cards for Ballack, possibly to Real Madrid. A new contract at his club Bayern Munich, hasn't yet been agreed, especially after they withdrew their contract extension.

 
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