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We won't take anything for granted in semi-final, insists Germany's Ballack
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24 June 2008
Germany captain Michael Ballack believes Turkey's unpredictability makes the
outcome of tomorrow's Euro 2008 semi-final in Basle too close to call.
The Turks have a mountain of injury and suspension problems ahead of their
match with the highly-fancied Germans, but their never-say-die attitude makes
them dangerous opponents.
Fatih Terim's men have scored last-minute winners in their last three games to
progress to their first European Championship semi-final against all the odds.
Eye on the prize: Michael Ballack insists Turkey's unpredictability is their biggest strength
And Ballack is not about to make any rash predictions in the face of such
mercurial opposition.
'Turkey are certainly not better than us tactically, technically and in terms of individual players,' said the Chelsea midfielder, who excelled in Germany's 3-2 win over Portugal in the last eight.
'But they are unpredictable and they won't underestimate any of us. Turkey have up until now always been brilliantly set up against their opponents and they almost have a bit of the German mentality about them.
'It will be a tough task, but we have a big chance of making the final.'
Ballack is set to have Torsten Frings back alongside him in centre midfield at
St Jakob Park tomorrow night, the Werder Bremen anchorman having returned to
training after breaking ribs.
Indeed, Germany coach Joachim Low confirmed all 23 players in his squad were
available for the match.
The situation is the exact opposite for Terim, who could be faced with the
prospect of playing third-choice goalkeeper Tolga Zengin in an outfield position
if he is needed off the bench.
The latest blow to befall the Turks came yesterday when UEFA turned down
goalkeeper Volkan Demirel's appeal against his two-game suspension.
Volkan, Terim's number one stopper, was sent off in stoppage time of his side's
dramatic 3-2 Group A victory over Czech Republic after pushing Jan Koller, and
missed the quarter-final win over Croatia as a result.
He had hoped to get the ban reduced in order to play against Germany, but UEFA
have upheld their decision.
It leaves Terim with four players - including Middlesbrough forward Tuncay
Sanli - suspended, while Nihat Kahveci, Emre Gungor, Servet Cetin, Tumer Metin
and Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu are all injured.
London-born Colin Kazim-Richards is available to Terim and he is backing his
coach, who is nicknamed 'The Emperor' in his homeland, to do the impossible
again.
'He is always instilling belief,' the 21-year-old forward said of the former AC Milan and Galatasaray boss.
'He is incredible. He doesn't let your head go down - if it does, he shouts at
you straight away.
'And believe me, when that man shouts you look. It's like nothing I've seen
before. The coach gives us belief.'
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