Former Toon Stars Hails Ballack!
By Nu Mad
Updated Monday, 30th June 2008
Spain are European champions, but Germany's Michael Ballack has been hailed by former Newcastle midfielder Didi Hamann.
Hamann only played one season for Newcastle (1998/99) making 31 appearances for the Magpies, scoring five goals.
Currently playing for
Manchester City, he says Michael Ballack's move to
Chelsea has improved him.
"Michael has been a great player for six or seven years, but playing in the Premier League has taken him up to another level."
Ballack has been a star of Euro 2008, but was on the losing side last night, as Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann claims Italian referee Roberto Rosetti was "biased".
Germany lost the match 1-0 and although Lehmann concedes Spain were worthy winners of the title, he was far from impressed by the role played by Rosetti.
"What was disappointing in my opinion was the performance of the referee, who didn't really fancy us Germans, and this is the third time I was unlucky with referees in European cup finals," said the former
Arsenal goalkeeper.
Two incidents in particular stood out for Lehmann.
The first was when Spain midfielder David Silva looked to head-butt Lukas Podolski but escaped without punishment, and then in the dying minutes when a promising Germany attack was stopped for what Lehmann felt was a non-existent foul.
Lehmann, who tried to speak to Rosetti after the final whistle, said: "He was very arrogant and in my opinion he was biased. He clearly saw a head-butt from a Spanish player towards Lukas Podolski, he didn't book him or give him a red card.
"Just before the end we had a good chance in the penalty area and all of a sudden he gave a foul against us where even the Spanish players were surprised to get a free-kick. It was very disappointing."
As they say on "Dad's Army" ... "the Germans don't like it up 'em!"
