WM Post: Ballack jokes, Group B prediction

Two weeks to go, and it's Der Spiegel talking to Der Moneybags, Germany captain (and new Chelsea signing at 130,000 quid a week) Michael Ballack, in a pretty good interview:

SPIEGEL: There are already some Ballack jokes doing the rounds. Have you heard this one? They used to talk about Fritz Walter weather, drizzle. Do you know what Ballack weather is?
Ballack: No, I don't.
SPIEGEL: When it rains money.
Ballack: Very funny.

CHRISTOF STACHE/AP

It's raining Michael Ballack.

No player at this World Cup will be under more scrutiny than Ballack, playing in front of the home crowd, fresh off that move out of the Bundesliga -- and in a recent poll only seven per cent of the country figured they can win the whole thing (then again, Germany is the world leader in pessimism). But his manager, Juergen Klinsmann, is doing his darndest to lift the pressure off him and his teammates:

Germany's World Cup squad will take a course in watch making to fill up a bit of spare time during their Swiss training camp, according to team manager Oliver Bierhoff. "They'll learn how to take a watch apart and put it back together again," he said after the squad arrived in Switzerland on Sunday after a break in Sardinia. "It's something a bit different."

On to the Group B predictions. Nothing out of the ordinary yet (and nothing that differs with the odds board):

1 England ... Who needs Rooney? Well, not yet, anyway.

2 Sweden ... They can chew gum and play keepy-uppy at the same time -- with the gum. But those uniforms are enough to blind any opponent.

3 Paraguay ... I'd pick them to upset Sweden if Roque Santa Cruz was healthy.

4 Trinidad & Tobago ... They may well lead the World Cup in team songs.

Comments

[Marcin Pawlak]

When was the last time England beat Sweden?

[cy]

er, 1968 ... I think I know where you're going with this Marcin. I hear ya.

[Beautifulgamer]

England should be able to get out of this group without Rooney and even Owen. I'd save Owen (captain injury) and start Crouch in a 4-5-1.