[ankitknp]

Originally Posted by getintoiimb

dude..i never claimed ballack as the best player in the world ..
chelsea fans never claimed ballack to the best player in the world ..
german football fans never claimed ballack to be the best player in the world
commentators never claimed ballack to be the best player in the world
but i can tell u one thing..he is and has been more successful than ronaldo in terms of club+national level perfomances put together..maybe ronaldo has completely overtaken ballack in terms of club football but ronaldo hasnt acheived much at the international stage compared to ballack..but if see it as a combined aspect its ballack who has been more successfull both as a player and captain..

For me Ballack is better than Ronaldo. You can say that he is one of the best this generation has ever seen. Ballack is a big game player. He single handedly took Leverkusen to UCL finals. Was a major force in Germany's 2002 and 2006 WC campaign. If you compare the goals scored by Ballack with tht of Ronaldo, You will find that Ballack has scored more crucial golas for his team. You just have to look the work ethics that Ballack puts in his game. I dont detest Ronaldo. Just I am saying dont compare one legend to another good footballer...

[evilblood86]

For someone who, Missed the Bundesliga title when Leverkusen almost won it, losing the German Cup Final, losing the Champions league final twice, missing out of World Cup final, missing the Premiership. Ballack just seem to be like one of the unlucky chaps..
(Can it be due to the no.13 jersey he wears at club and country??!)

Ronaldo and Ballack as players too are different as winger and CM so I think Ballack has to be more influential and commanding in defense as well as attack.
Considering the age factor , if you compare both players at 22, Ronaldo will come off as far better than Ballack.
At 22, Ballack had only had 1 game for Germany and I can assure you he was nowhere near as involved as Ronaldo when he was 22.
Currently, I have to hand it to you that Ballack may influence Germany more than Ronaldo does to Portugal.
Main critics of Ronaldo always say that he cant step up in big games and he's had games against Wigan's and Middlesboro's or San Marino or Luxembourg where he can dominate but not against top teams but I can say thats just mainly the age factor where he still has a lot to learn. Ballack on the other hand has passed his prime and has a lot of experience. He can step up in big games and feel much less pressure than Ronaldo would in the same game.

But surely like one of the main icons of Portugese football Figo , I just hope Ronaldo dosent end his career without any international achievement cuz he deserves too win a WC/Euro..PORTUGAL deserves too
But next Euros, you will see clearly how much Ronaldo influences the play for Portugal and Ballack may not be anywhere near that. He's 31 now, so he may not even play in the next Euros?

[polpot]

Originally Posted by ankitknp

For me Ballack is better than Ronaldo. You can say that he is one of the best this generation has ever seen. Ballack is a big game player. He single handedly took Leverkusen to UCL finals. Was a major force in Germany's 2002 and 2006 WC campaign. If you compare the goals scored by Ballack with tht of Ronaldo, You will find that Ballack has scored more crucial golas for his team. You just have to look the work ethics that Ballack puts in his game. I dont detest Ronaldo. Just I am saying dont compare one legend to another good footballer...

Ballack is a damn good player. One of the best players, but please dont make him one of the best this generation has seen. Those would be the likes of Zidane. I dont personally like the discussion of who is a better player, but right now if I had to select ebtween Zidane at his top and Ballack at his top, there is no doubt who id go for. Id pick even Nedved before Ballack. Again im posting this only because you called him a LEGEND. He is not a legend.

[ankitknp]

Originally Posted by polpot

Ballack is a damn good player. One of the best players, but please dont make him one of the best this generation has seen. Those would be the likes of Zidane. I dont personally like the discussion of who is a better player, but right now if I had to select ebtween Zidane at his top and Ballack at his top, there is no doubt who id go for. Id pick even Nedved before Ballack. Again im posting this only because you called him a LEGEND. He is not a legend.

I said that Ballack is one of the best in this generation. Not the best. I will give Zidane edge over Ballack simply because Zidane has won major trophies including WC and UCL. But for me Nedved will come after Ballack in every aspects. Ballack has one dominating prescence in midfield. A leader who can be a great example to fellow players. In international level, I dont think any captain has so dominating influence on the game and on his players. If u believe in records then u can compare the records of the two.... He is a legend.. ..

Thats it... I rest my case.

[polpot]

Originally Posted by ankitknp

I said that Ballack is one of the best in this generation. Not the best. I will give Zidane edge over Ballack simply because Zidane has won major trophies including WC and UCL. But for me Nedved will come after Ballack in every aspects. Ballack has one dominating prescence in midfield. A leader who can be a great example to fellow players. In international level, I dont think any captain has so dominating influence on the game and on his players. If u believe in records then u can compare the records of the two.... He is a legend.. ..

Thats it... I rest my case.

Legends-
Pele
Maradona
Lothar Matthaus
Carlos Torres
Zinedine Zidane
Johan Crujff
Marco Van Basten
Franz Beckenbauer
Puskas
Lev Yashin
Socrates
Gerd Muller
These are legends. Not only are they influential, but they have performed on the big stage and won. Im sorry but i cant think of mentioning Ballack in the same breath. No disrespect, but its the same difference as someone pointed out between Ballack and Ronaldo. Ballack is good but matches nowhere to these guys.

[joel1702]

Was gutted to see Portugal lose...The Germans were just clinical when it came to finishing off their chances. Ricardo was woeful when defending set pieces...

Need to pick a new team to support.....Hoping the Holland or spain wins it now
Todays game is the last i get to watch at home....am off to the campus tomorrow

[Jok3r]

:shoc ked:: shocked:

I began typing turikush obituaries...when they scored...
never a dull moment when turkey's around...

oh god what drama...will edit my post later....

EDIT----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Turkey Win
I think croatia will rue their lack of killer instinct dearly...the last minute goal knocked the daylights out of them...

Modric is the real deal though...i feel he might have done better in la liga...with his zidanesque style of play...but if he can manage the physical aspect of the EPL...tottenham have a star on their hands

PS: werent 120 mins over when turkey scored? is extra time on top of extra time allowed??

PPS : my new status message

[datkilldme]

TURKEY JUST DON'T THINK THEY CAN EVER LOSE!!

MY GAWD.. WHAT A FINISH!!!

P.S. : Pretty fitting "status message" indeed, by Jok3r..! Sums it up well for Turkey!

[howardroarkrock]

Good that Turkey won....germany had a jinx against turkey...i think the path to finals became clearer for germany ;p

[vishal_9feb]

Absolutely treat of a match..gr8 to see turkey win.They deserve it for sure.Well played Turkey