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Ballack: We Must Raise Our Game

Germany captain Michael Ballack believes he and his compatriots will receive their first true test of EURO 2008 when they face Croatia on Thursday…

Both teams triumphed in their opening encounters of Group B, Croatia edging past determined co-hosts Austria while Germany defeated an organised Poland side 2-0.

They go head to head at the Worthersee Stadion tonight knowing the winner will be all but guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals.

And while Ballack was pleased with his team’s performance against the Poles, he expects much tougher opposition from a Croatian outfit determined for success.

"We can be happy with beating Poland but we will know our true level after this game," Ballack said.

"It is a different task. Croatia want to be European champions and they beat England twice, which is no easy feat."

Improve

Lukas Podolski scored twice against the country of his birth to lead Germany to a comfortable win in Klagenfurt on Monday.

Ballack was involved in each of the goals, and he knows he will have to at least maintain that quality of output if the Mannschaft are to go deep into the knockout rounds.

"It was a very good first performance, there were no gaps in our lines," the Chelsea midfielder explained.

"We have to raise our game because we will come across stronger teams in the tournament like Croatia.

"We will be more challenged and we cannot make mistakes. We want to go into the final and we will have to improve."

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Ballack: We Must Raise Our Game