Ballack backs Germany to reach World Cup final

Captain Michael Ballack believes there is a strong chance Germany will reach the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as the national team’s new shirt was unveiled on Tuesday.

Three stars above the German Football Federation’s (DFB) logo signifies Germany have won the World Cup in 1954, 1974 and 1990, but Ballack says the new shirt is extra motivation for his side to reach the final on July 11.

The new shirt is a return to the traditional style with the colours black, red and gold, of the German flag, in thin stripes running down the predominantly white shirt.

“The new shirt gives us extra motivation,” said Chelsea star Ballack who missed out on playing in Germany’s 2002 World Cup final defeat to Brazil through suspension.

“There is a good chance we will reach the final again.”

With Germany playing friendlies against Chile in Cologne on Saturday and the Ivory Coast in Gelsenkirchen on November 18, the entire squad was at Adidas’ headquarters in Herzogenaurach, near Nuremberg, for the shirt launch.

“That is a fine shirt that heightens anticipation for the World Cup, I am pleased it is a more traditional-style shirt,” said Germany coach Joachim Loew.

With 212 days before the World Cup starts, Franz Beckenbauer, who captained Germany to the 1974 title and then coached the team to 1990 success in Italy, said the shirt will count for nothing if the Germans comes home early.

“You must win the games, otherwise the best looking shirt is of no use to you,” said Bayern Munich president Beckenbauer.

“The players earn much more today than they used to in the past.

“But it is still an honour to play for the national team, it is the biggest honour which a player can achieve.

“And there is still room for a fourth star in the shirt.”

With Germany playing their last two games of the year next week, Loew said he will use the games to look at some fringe players including Werder Bremen midfielder Aaron Hunt and Bayern Munich’s rising star Thomas Mueller.

“We want to look at a few members of the squad, but it is important we get two convincing performances,” said Loew, who steered the Germans to the Euro 2008 final in Vienna.

Mueller, 20, will play for Germany’s Under-21s against Northern Ireland in a European Championships qualifier on Friday night and then join the squad in Gelsenkirchen next week for next week’s game.