Michael Ballack - Football's biggest loser?

[Twix]

Michael Ballack

Came second in the DFB Cup final in '02
Came second in the Bundesliga in '02
Came second in the Champions League in '02
Came second in the World Cup in '02

Came second in the Carling Cup in '08
Came second in the Premiership in '08
Came second in the Champions League in '08
Came second in the European Championships in '08

I want to know is this some sort of a record?

How will this affect Ballack's all-time standing?

Is Ballack just unlucky, or is there more to it than meets the eye?

[Kazuma]

Del Piero has lost seven finals:

3 Champions Leagues (1997, 1998, 2003)
1 UEFA Cup (1995)
2 Coppa Italia's (2001, 2004)
1 Euro (2000)

[Kazuma]

To add, there is more to it than meets the eye like you say.

[Cool Rob]

I give Ballack a pass for the losing because most of those teams had no business being in those finals. Most were very flawed teams that Ballack dragged into contention, especally the 02' CL, 02' Bundesliga, and defintiely the '02 WC. Chelsea were woefully fractured this year, a team about to be dismantled yet somehow stayed in contention. I, personally don't see much special about this German team, except the fact that they are Germany. It's not like Ballack lost with Klinsmann and Bierhoff.

[SirManchester]

I think it's irrelevant whether those teams deserved to be there or not. That applies to a lot of teams in history that ended up walking away with the trophy.

The teams Ballack went to the final with may not all have been great but he carried most of them on his back and he certainly deserved to win each and every one of them. It's fair to say he's been very unlucky.

I do wonder what his status would be would he have won all of them. Would he be held in higher regard and considered an all timer?

[ForeverRed]

I give Ballack a pass for the losing because most of those teams had no business being in those finals. Most were very flawed teams that Ballack dragged into contention, especally the 02' CL, 02' Bundesliga, and defintiely the '02 WC. Chelsea were woefully fractured this year, a team about to be dismantled yet somehow stayed in contention. I, personally don't see much special about this German team, except the fact that they are Germany. It's not like Ballack lost with Klinsmann and Bierhoff.

When it comes to the NT Ballack has been unlucky to be part of a generation that lacked talent and in hindsight, kinda overachieved. Keeping that in mind its quite amazing how vital he was to them how well they did with him leading the teams.

And when you look at teams like Leverkusen in '02 you can't really argue that they had no business being where they were. They were fantastic in Europe and domestically, Ballack being a huge part in both.

Ballack is one of this generations best and an all timer when it comes to German football.

[Redsock]

When it comes to the NT Ballack has been unlucky to be part of a generation that lacked talent and in hindsight, kinda overachieved. Keeping that in mind its quite amazing how vital he was to them how well they did with him leading the teams.

And when you look at teams like Leverkusen in '02 you can't really argue that they had no business being where they were. They were fantastic in Europe and domestically, Ballack being a huge part in both.

Ballack is one of this generations best and an all timer when it comes to German football.

Agree with your comment

Imagine the NT without Ballack in 2002 WC, 06 WC and this year in the EC

Probably out after the phase group, perhaps a quarter...

yes he's very unlucky to be the most talented german player of his generation but the only one !!!!

[ForeverRed]

Agree with your comment

Imagine the NT without Ballack in 2002 WC, 06 WC and this year in the EC

Probably out after the phase group, perhaps a quarter...

yes he's very unlucky to be the most talented german player of his generation but the only one !!!!

Right, all doubters just ask yourself; would any of his final reaching sides have gotten to the final without him?

[JuveFE]

Right, all doubters just ask yourself; would any of his final reaching sides have gotten to the final without him?

Probably not

Some great players from there country will never no how it feels to make it to a final of a major tournament. At least Ballack has been to them all.

Ballack deserved better in some of his finals that he has made it to but on sunday Spain deserved it.

I wouldn't call Ballack the biggest loser in football, just unlucky.

[Twix]

I do wonder what his status would be would he have won all of them. Would he be held in higher regard and considered an all timer?
If he had won all of them, he'd be a top 20 player of all time.

If his performances in international tournaments were more spectacular(sp?), than maybe top 10.

[Cris 09]

I wouldn't call Ballack the biggest loser in football, just unlucky.

Playing with a #13 on his back sure doesn't help...if you believe in that sort of thing! :rolleyes:

[SirManchester]

If his performances in international tournaments were more spectacular(sp?), than maybe top 10.


I hear that a lot, and FR already mentioned this a bit, it's extremely difficult to be the standout when you have to carry your team on your back for so long. Ballack didn't benefit from being the single best German player of his generation, and similarly he didn't benefit from having to play with players who weren't of his quality as well. Over the past three years it was telling how big of a role he had. He wsa shifted from playing more offensive to playing deeper to most recently providing cover for the bak four as well as being the retainer/playmaker in the team - too many responsibilities for any player, regardless of the talent. In hindsight Ballack has been unlucky in more ways than one.

[Borussia]

I wouldn't call Ballack the biggest loser in football, just unlucky.


Well, if he played better in the final (ok, let's forget the even worse semi-final), he might have been a little bit luckier this time...

I praised him after the Portugal game, but don't think he belongs to the "all star" team after just 1 good game out of 6 during this EURO! I think you can expect more from a skipper & player with his qualities...


Btw: He'll never win an international final as long as he doesn't get rid of that #13 shirt! :-)

[lionmessi]

Well, if he played better in the final (ok, let's forget the even worse semi-final), he might have been a little bit luckier this time...

yeah if he played like yesterday in all his finals than he deserves the loss

[Moishe]

What a curse it is to a player to have some many expectations placed upon his shoulders. I'm far from the biggest Ballack fan but do respect his abilities as a player and a figure-head to this generation of German futbol players. Calling him or even implying he's a loser is overly harsh if anyone would chose to take that stance. Consistently finishing second is not close to winning once but he still deserves credit as the player that put his sides in a position to be there in the first place.

[squidward123]

I give Ballack a pass for the losing because most of those teams had no business being in those finals. Most were very flawed teams that Ballack dragged into contention, especally the 02' CL, 02' Bundesliga, and defintiely the '02 WC. Chelsea were woefully fractured this year, a team about to be dismantled yet somehow stayed in contention. I, personally don't see much special about this German team, except the fact that they are Germany. It's not like Ballack lost with Klinsmann and Bierhoff.

Leverkusen were definitely one of the two best teams in europe in 2001/2002. They played fantastic football. They were also the best team in the Bundesliga until the final 2 weeks' choke.

[nicephoras]

Del Piero has lost seven finals:

3 Champions Leagues (1997, 1998, 2003)
1 UEFA Cup (1995)
2 Coppa Italia's (2001, 2004)
1 Euro (2000)

And he's been pretty bad in some of them. (Euro 2K anyone?)

[ForeverRed]

Del Piero has lost seven finals:

3 Champions Leagues (1997, 1998, 2003)
1 UEFA Cup (1995)
2 Coppa Italia's (2001, 2004)
1 Euro (2000)

The many second place finishes for poor Michael.....

2 Champions Leagues (2002, 2008)
1 World Cup (2002)
1 Euro Cup (2008)
2 Premier League (2007, 2008)
3 Bundesliga (2000, 2002, 2004)
1 German Cup (2002)

[Kazuma]

If he had won all of them, he'd be a top 20 player of all time.

I disagree with that. Measuring players by what they've won IMO is somewhat silly. Keep in mind that Roque Jr. and Stephane Guivarc'h have World Cup medals to their names.

[squidward123]

how many of you think ballack is a top 20 german player of all-time?

(assuming that earlier top 20 talk is including all nationalities)