I must play better, admits German talisman Ballack

MICHAEL BALLACK admits he has let Germany down so far at Euro 2008 and is determined not to suffer the embarrassment of failing to reach the knockout stages to add to his end-of-season agony at Chelsea.

The 31-year-old lost out to Manchester United on the last day of the Premier League season and in the Champions League final, and now defeat to Austria in Group B tonight (7.45pm) would mean an early exit for his country.

He feels that failing to get the point they need against the co-hosts would match the disappointment of losing the league, cup and the European Cup at the last hurdle with Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.