Ballack Defends Move

Michael Ballack refuses to see his move from Chelsea to Bayer Leverkusen as a step down in his career and has set his sights on winning more silverware with the Bundesliga club. The Germany captain yesterday completed his return to Leverkusen, signing a two-year contract with the side where he first rose to prominence between 1999 and 2002.

Although Ballack's last spell with them ended in triple disappointment with defeat in the UEFA Champions League final, a runners-up spot in the Bundesliga and an agonising DFB-Pokal final loss, he has returned to put things right by winning trophies.

"We want to win the league in the near future," he proclaimed. "My ambitions are still very high. I have always been playing to win trophies over the last decade and we can do that with Bayer too. Of course Bayern are the top favourites, but there is such great potential here in Leverkusen and we should also go a long way in Europe."

Ballack has spent the last four years in England with the Blues, but he admitted he was not tempted to remain abroad when he learnt his contract was not going to be extended. "As soon as I knew I was leaving Chelsea, our first thought was to return to Germany," he revealed. "That is our home and we are happy there. We should settle there for the future."

Ballack, who was forced out of the FIFA World Cup with an ankle injury sustained in Chelsea's FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth has signed a two-year contract with Leverkusen but claims he could play on longer, as long as he remains fit.

"Of course I still want to play for the national team and I have my eyes on Euro 2012," he said. "I will be 35 then and we will have to see nearer the time what happens (with a new contract). My health also plays a very big role."

Ballack will be given his favourite number 13 shirt with Leverkusen, but he may not necessarily be handed the captain's armband. And he claims he is not concerned about who leads the team onto the field for their first Bundesliga match of the season on August 21.

"That is up to the coach," he said. "I don't have to be the captain to assume responsibility. Simon Rolfes is a great captain and has filled the position well and I think that it will remain that way."

Keepers Share Shoot-out Secrets

Petr Cech and Oliver Kahn have revealed the tricks used by goalkeepers when it comes to penalties.

Draws are no longer an option in the World Cup with the group phase now over, so a number of games are likely to be settled by spot-kicks over the next couple of weeks.

Penalty shoot-outs are nervy occasions for players and supporters alike, although many goalkeepers claim to relish the chance to become heroes.

With the odds stacked heavily in favour of those trying to score, former Germany and Bayern Munich keeper Kahn admits he had to become attuned to the subtlest of signs from his opponent.

"You can read a lot from the body language of the shooter and where he will be shooting," said Khan.

"It is a psychological game between the goalkeeper and the taker. It has a lot to do with eye contact and body language.

"You can irritate the shooter with your body language, you can see whether a player is fearful and you can see from the eyes of a taker if he makes a small mistake into which corner that ball will go."

Cech, who plays for Chelsea and Czech Republic, concedes that goalkeepers also have psychological battles with themselves ahead of a penalty.

"You do your homework, you know where the player can shoot, what is his habit, if he waits for the goalkeeper or if he chooses the corner," Cech said.

"But you need to be strong, stay calm, try to keep your homework working, then you have a chance of saving the ball."

Although Khan did his homework when Bayern beat Valencia on penalties in the 2001 UEFA Champions League final, he did not use what he had learned.

"I still remember very clearly. I was working with my coach to figure out what all the players' tactics were," Kahn recalled.

"But (on the field) I forgot all of that. I (went) straight into a phase of absolute concentration."

Kahn accepts that concentration and mind games alone will not help a goalkeeper make a crucial penalty save.

He added: "You always need a certain amount of luck."

Cole: We Want To Win Something

Joe Cole has revealed his displeasure at England's 'Golden Generation' tag but believes they may finally live up to it by winning the FIFA 2010 World Cup™. The former Chelsea midfielder feels the title is undeserved given England have failed to win a major tournament with that group of players.

But Cole believes this is "our time" regarding England as they gear up for tomorrow's last-16 meeting with old rivals Germany in Bloemfontein. He revealed: "We don't like to be called the Golden Generation. That was put upon us. We don't like it because we've not won anything. I remember the Portugal team who were called the same and they never won anything either. We want to win something. Then people can rightly call us that."

But Cole conceded: "I think we can do it this time. I've never felt it like this before in other tournaments. You always think you can do it but this time I think it's our time and we can do it if the country believes. I thought it was an excellent performance against Slovenia and we can't wait to get to grips with Germany.

"The history between the two countries is immense and the 1990 World Cup was the first tournament I watched. I can remember when Gazza (Paul Gascoigne) got booked and we lost on penalties to Germany in the semi-finals."

Cole has never taken a penalty in professional football during a career with West Ham United, Chelsea and England spanning more than a decade, but he is willing to put any trepidation to one side and take one against Germany if required should spot-kicks again be needed to decide the outcome.

"I've never taken a professional penalty because when I was at West Ham Paolo Di Canio took them," he said. "Frank Lampard takes them at Chelsea and David Beckham always did for England - but that's not to say I wouldn't take one. It takes more of a man to step up and take one rather than shy away. I'm hoping there'll be no surprise and they'll fall to the (Steven) Gerrards, (Frank) Lampards and (Wayne) Rooneys but if the manager asks me, I'll be there."

Didier Drogba Disappointed With Exit

Ivory Coast were knocked out of the World Cup on Friday afternoon despite defeating North Korea 3-0 in their final Group G match. The three points bagged against the Asian minnows were not enough for the Elephants as Portugal drew 0-0 with Brazil to finish second in the group and qualify for the last 16.

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was understandably disappointed after the match but maintained an optimistic outlook towards the future.

"If we were in a better group maybe we would go through. I think we were unlucky both times in the World Cup," the 32-year-old has been quoted by AP as saying.

"We are disappointed, but at the same time we can't be too disappointed when you are in a group like this with Portugal and Brazil. We are a good team and we have good players but I think those two teams are better than us.

"For a country like Ivory Coast to be in a World Cup twice in a row is something fantastic.

"Knowing that in the past we have never been there before, to play against Brazil and Portugal, two of the best nations of the football world, it's like a dream for our country."

Ricardo Carvalho Delighted To Be In Last 16

In what was a dull encounter, Portugal qualified for the second round of the World Cup by drawing 0-0 with Brazil in their final game in Group G.

Goal.com's Ewan Macdonald was present at the game in Durban and after the match he spoke to Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho along with the other reporters. The Chelsea centre-back expressed his delight at having qualified for the knockout stages and hinted that he wouldn't lose sleep on who they will face next.

"Yes, of course [I am delighted with second round qualification]. A draw would have been enough for us, we knew that. Brazil are very strong but they had one or two results, like us, so I think a draw is a fair result.

"I can't control that [who we face in the second round], so we need to wait for tonight to decide what we can't control. Of course it would be better to be first, but you never know. We just have to wait."

Speaking on the England-Germany clash in the last 16, Carvalho stated that England have a real chance to beat their old adversaries and progress in the tournament.

"Of course, they can beat the Germans, but you never know in football," the Chelsea defender said before adding that he has not spoken to his club-mate John Terry and that he doesn't "even have his number".

Michael Ballack Is Germany's Secret Weapon

Former Chelsea star Michael Ballack has been rumbled as a double-agent.

Ballack, 33, who has joined Bayer Leverkusen after being shown the Stamford Bridge door, has been helping the Germans compile dossiers on England.

German boss Joachim Low revealed Ballack could be his secret weapon for Sunday’s World Cup last-16 clash.

Ballack has been giving the in-side track on former team-mates, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.

Low said: “I have talked to Michael many times about the Premier League and we had a good chat two or three months ago about individual players such as Lampard.

“He knows a lot about these players and we have comprehensive information at our disposal.”

Low stayed in the training camp studying videos while his young side visited a lion park yesterday morning.

“I’m happy to report that none of my players got eaten! There is no fear in anyone’s eyes,” he said.

“There is a tension, yes, but it is healthy stage fright. We won’t go into the game hiding our heads in the sand.

“We are young, but are we nice? I don’t think that comes into it. You should see them in training.”

Skipper Philipp Lahm laughed off suggestions Fabio Capello’s Three Lions were lying in wait.

He said: “Yes, we saw lions but it was more of a petting zoo so we had some young cubs in our arms.

“On Sunday the treatment we give to the lions we face will be more aggressive than this morning.”

Low says his men must listen to all the info passed on to them or risk being ripped apart.

“Give Wayne Rooney and Lampard lots of space and they can be unstoppable. England have a fantastic fighting spirit and burning ambition.

“The axis of their team – Terry, Steven Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney is just amazing.

“But there is no fear, maybe a few nerves. There are many chapters in the book of Anglo- German encounters and this is the latest.

“They are usually full of sparks. The English have a never-say-die attitude. They are known for their fight and commitment.”

Low said he had ignored rumours of unrest in the opposition camp.

“England are strong mentally and have great experience,” he said.

“It is not the end of the world if they sit together and ask what they can change.”

Defoe Hails Ashley Cole

Jermain Defoe has hailed Ashley Cole as "the best left-back in the world" ahead of England's World Cup clash with Germany in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

Chelsea defender Cole has attracted unwanted headlines off the pitch regarding events in his private life and seldom gives interviews these days.

But Tottenham striker Defoe has no doubts about the footballing qualities of the 29-year-old, who made his England debut nearly a decade ago in a World Cup qualifier in Albania.

Cole returned from injury towards the end of the domestic season to help Chelsea clinch a Barclays Premier League and FA Cup double.

He then clocked up his 81st England cap in the 1-0 win over Slovenia on Wednesday.

That set up a last-16 meeting with Germany, with Cole one of the survivors from the side which defeated England's old rivals 5-1 in Munich nine years ago.

Defoe, who scored England's winner against the Slovenians, said: "Ashley is brilliant. For me, he is the best left-back in the world. I was saying that to someone, I think it was Shaun (Wright-Phillips).

"It is different when you are playing to looking in from the outside. You can appreciate how good someone is.

"With the movement, sometimes Stevie G (Gerrard) will come inside and Ashley will overlap. We work on that in training.

"When Ashley gets into the final third of the pitch, he is really relaxed and can pass it.

"He is still talking about the three goals he scored last season for Chelsea."

Defoe added: "His energy is unbelievable - what an athlete. He is the best and he has been like that for years.

"To have that consistency at the top level for so long is special."

Blues On Parade Around The World

Supporters clubs on either side of the globe took part in their own Double-winning bus parades at the end of our successful 2009/10 season.

Not to be outdone by the parade in SW6, fans in both New York and Hong Kong organised their own open-top buses to take an array of supporters along their local streets.

Anson Mui was the man behind Hong Kong Island's parade, made all the more special by the fact the region is populated heavily by Manchester United fans, while Mike Neat arranged New York's parade.

'We wanted to be loud and proud,' said Neat, 'and we wanted an audience which meant heading to a couple of tourist-infested areas of Manhattan.

'We received many bemused looks and smiles along with a few shouts from fellow fans and fans of other teams. One fan on the street actually began a "Super Frank" chant for us on the bus. Naturally, quite a few people on the street turned their cameras on us,' added Neat, who also helped raise $1,000 for charity during the event.

Both cities boast a healthy Chelsea following as the Blues have infiltrated the west and east, with over 500 fans involved in the Official Chelsea Supporters' Club Hong Kong.

Held on 30 May, the parade in Hong Kong took three hours to complete as fans sang Chelsea songs and held a quiz to give away merchandise sponsored by the club's Megastore.

'People on the street smiled and waved, although some were confused by what was going on,' explained Mui.

'And although it was raining, it was great fun. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and we were proud of being Chelsea fans. It was great for us all to get together and sing some Chelsea songs.'

The Blues have supporters' club branches all over the world but are consistently striving to find more.

Chelsea Link Up With Arizona Club

Chelsea Academy coaches will be heading to America this summer to bring top-level coaching to elite young players in Arizona.

In partnership with the Sereno Soccer Club, we will host an elite soccer camp for boys and girls ages eight to 16.

The camps, to be held July 11-16 at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, will provide players with access to similar drills and practices our coaches at Cobham use to train our own Academy talent, offering a unique opportunity to develop technical skills.

Chelsea's head of international youth football development Jeff Bookman said: 'America has terrific young talent and Chelsea are dedicated to supporting youth soccer development in the States by bringing our esteemed staff of coaches and personnel to host camps, clinics and training programs.

'The Arizona soccer camp will highlight the same coaching philosophy we use for all levels of our club.'

The camp is part of Chelsea's ongoing commitment to the development of football in America. Since 2008, we have partnered with top clubs in America to establish the Chelsea US youth club network to share the Chelsea coaching philosophy, host training camps, sponsor tournaments and implement player and coaching exchange programs.

Sereno SC, which is part of the Chelsea US youth club network, is one of the leading soccer education and training organizations in the United States and is perennially ranked the number one youth soccer club in Arizona.

Over the past 30 years, the club has produced 46 Arizona State champion boys teams, 80 Arizona State champion girls teams, nine regional champions, three national finalists and one national champion.