BRUSSELS: With Germany set to open their Euro 2012 qualifier campaign on Friday, captain Michael Ballack has been told he faces a fit to win back his midfield place by Real Madrid's Sami Khedira.
Ballack has been left out of the Germany squad for Friday's match against Belgium in Brussels and next Tuesday's other Group A qualifier against Azerbaijan in Cologne as he recovers from an ankle injury.
The knock kept him out of the World Cup and in his absence Khedira took his place in the heart of Germany's midfield, scoring the goal against Uruguay which earned the Germans third place in South Africa.
His World Cup performances earned Khedira a 14-million-euro transfer from Stuttgart to Real Madrid and the 23-year-old says veteran Ballack will not just walk back into the national side at his expense.
"In his career, Michael Ballack has done much for German football and has produced several excellent performances at major tournaments," said Khedira.
"But with all due respect to him: that now may no longer matter.
"I know that I do not have to hide and bring to the national team my own style and, hopefully, success."
Since the World Cup, Khedira has taken over the role of leading Germany's defence in midfield and will not surrender his place without a fight.
"There are other excellent midfielders in Germany, not only Michael Ballack," said Khedira with Leverkusen's Simon Rolfes and Stuttgart's Christian Genter also on the fringes of the national squad.
"But anyway, I look only at myself. I was challenging for a place, went to the World Cup and returned as a regular national player," he said.
"And not out of luck, but because I have put in some good performances in South Africa."
Ballack has been left out of the Germany squad for Friday's match against Belgium in Brussels and next Tuesday's other Group A qualifier against Azerbaijan in Cologne as he recovers from an ankle injury.
The knock kept him out of the World Cup and in his absence Khedira took his place in the heart of Germany's midfield, scoring the goal against Uruguay which earned the Germans third place in South Africa.
His World Cup performances earned Khedira a 14-million-euro transfer from Stuttgart to Real Madrid and the 23-year-old says veteran Ballack will not just walk back into the national side at his expense.
"In his career, Michael Ballack has done much for German football and has produced several excellent performances at major tournaments," said Khedira.
"But with all due respect to him: that now may no longer matter.
"I know that I do not have to hide and bring to the national team my own style and, hopefully, success."
Since the World Cup, Khedira has taken over the role of leading Germany's defence in midfield and will not surrender his place without a fight.
"There are other excellent midfielders in Germany, not only Michael Ballack," said Khedira with Leverkusen's Simon Rolfes and Stuttgart's Christian Genter also on the fringes of the national squad.
"But anyway, I look only at myself. I was challenging for a place, went to the World Cup and returned as a regular national player," he said.
"And not out of luck, but because I have put in some good performances in South Africa."
National coach Joachim Loew has said Bastian Schweinsteiger and Khedira form the backbone of his midfield as Germany look to qualify for Euro 2012 to be held in the Ukraine and Poland.
"At the moment, the defensive midfielders are Bastian and Sami, that is set," said the 50-year-old Loew.
Despite being criticised, along with Germany team-mate Mesut Ozil, for his lack of Spanish by Real coach Jose Mourinho since the pair's arrival in the Spanish capital, Khedira says he is working on his languages.
"I have been there now for two or three weeks. My English is so good that I can give and understand all tactical instructions 100 percent," he said.
"Sometimes I understand it, even in Spanish, but of course, I want to learn the language quickly.
"I am now taking private Spanish classes three times a week."
Khedira says he has adjusted to Real's style of play under Mourinho straight away, but is learning fast.
"It is a completely new style of football at Real and a very different philosophy," he said.
Read more: Ballack will have to fight for his place, says Khedira - Top Stories - Football - Sports - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Ballack-will-have-to-fight-for-his-place-says-Khedira/articleshow/6486748.cms#ixzz0yXCGU1xq
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