German skipper at odds with Klinsmann over tactics

GERMAN captain Michael Ballack last night criticised his team’s tactics ahead of the World Cup as rivals France and England confidently declared their preparations were on track.

With the June 9-July 9 football extravaganza just over a week away, Ballack expressed reservations about coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s adventurous style, saying it had left the team badly exposed in a 2-2 draw with Japan.

“Jurgen Klinsmann has put together a very young team over the last two years and we are always making the same mistakes and we have the same problems in defence,” Ballack said ahead of Germany’s final warm-up against Colombia.