Germany to ease past Argentina: Ballack

Injured German captain Michael Ballack predicted on Friday that Germany would beat Argentina 3-1 in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final.

The 33-year-old midfielder, who was ruled out of the finals after injuring his right ankle in the FA Cup final in May, told Bild that he had no advice to give to the predominantly young side that has produced some electrifying football twice scoring four goals.

“I have no advice to give the team, everything is going really well, what they have achieved so far is fantastic,” Ballack told the newspaper on arriving in South Africa.

“Under these conditions, we have our chances against Argentina and I predict a 3-1 victory.”

Ballack, who was released by Chelsea at the end of last season and has joined one of his former clubs Bayer Leverkusen, has flown to South Africa to join-up with his compatriots and in the event of them winning their clash in Cape Town will stay with them in their hotel on the outskirts of Pretoria.