Ballack wins Big Phil praise
19 Jun 2008 - 07:40:55
Germany captain Michael Ballack has won high praise from Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari ahead of the Euro 2008 quarter-final meeting of the two sides.
Scolari will be Ballack's club manager at Chelsea next season and the Brazilian is clearly a big fan of the midfield powerhouse.
He commented: "Ballack is an important player, a great player.
"He has a lot of technical qualities and is one of the great players in the tournament. Maybe he has hit peak form over the last two years.
"We have deep respect for Germany's qualities, but we will play our game and try to beat them.
"Ballack is an excellent player, one of the athletes who has been a highlight of the tournament so far along with four or five others.
"He deserves special attention, but we can't concern ourselves only with Ballack. One of the best wing-backs in the tournament is Philipp Lahm. I have to worry about the whole German team.
"Germany are growing. They had not such a good game in their second match, but improved in the third and are in good condition to face us."
