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"I've had to battle a lot"

Michael Ballack is in his best form ever. Even now, he's looking forward to a future with Germany beyond EURO 2008.

Whatever happens over the next few weeks, Ballack would like to lead Germany into the World Cup in 2010, at least: "It continues to be an honour to captain this team. It's a task I hope to fulfil for some time, I'm aiming for 2010," he says

"But right now, I am focusing on the EURO," he says ahead of Germany's opening game against Poland on Sunday.

Question: This will be your fifth major competition. But never before have you have had so much praise heaped on you in advance. How do you cope with that?

Michael Ballack: It's definitely better to get praise than the reverse. But I know very well how things go. I know the pendulum could quickly swing the other way. I'm in good form right now, but that means working even harder to live up to expectations. I'm aware of my responsibilities. I'm experienced enough to know everything depends on results. Whatever the chit-chat now, all that counts is how we play from Sunday. What's important for me is that this time I'm starting the EURO top fit and not plagued with injury, as I was before other tournaments.

Question: You've been captain for four years. But you seem to be growing ever more into the job.

Ballack: It's a joy seeing the way young players are getting involved, looking forward to EURO 2008, and how they really want to play for the national team. Also it's great that we've had very good relations with our fans for a few years. My job as captain is to maintain the team and our fans pulling together. There've been times when things weren't so good, which was related to our variable performance. It's obvious, we need, above all, to perform. It remains an honour to captain this team. I hope to remain captain for some time.

Question: Does that mean you are planning to take part in the World Cup in South Africa - even though you're 31 now?

Ballack: 2010 is definitely one of my aims.

Question: Have you ever thought about when you might like to hang up your boots for good?

Ballack: No, I have no set plans. In the eight months I was injured, the thought crossed my mind a bit, because in that situation you're forced to switch off from football. But once you're fully back in playing mode, you don't have the space to plan ahead. Winning the next game is what you have in mind. Long-term planning is ardly possible.

Question: Will we ever see Michael Ballack back playing in the Bundesliga again?

Ballack: I don't think so. I played a good long time in the Bundesliga. I could easily see myself ending my career in England. It would be nic e to do that with a really top team like Chelsea.

Question: Do you sometimes worry, if Germany don't win EURO 2008, that you'll go down in football history as someone who always took second spot?

Ballack: That's not an issue for me. I've won a few titles in my time. Of course, you always want a spectacular success, but there's no magic formula. It's one of the imponderables of sport. Sometimes, you don't play that well yourself, but win the Champions League. It's not something you can control.

Question: The last time Germany won a match in the final stages of the EURO was 1996. How confident are you that Germany will beat Poland on Sunday?

Ballack: We are confident we can end our bad run. What's more, we need to win at least two games to reach the quarter finals, which is our first aim. But it's that first game where you have to show that you are in the right frame of mind. Then you can build up the momentum and confidence to carry the team right through the competition.

Question: Do you see Germany as one of the favourites for the EURO?

Ballack: There aren't many teams that don't go into a tournament with the aim of winning it. They all have confidence in themselves. There are ten or twelve teams that are aiming to win EURO 2008. We're one of them.

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