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.

Spurs Boss Harry Redknapp Wants To Sign Joe Cole

Harry Redknapp has admitted for the first time he is trying to sign Joe Cole.

But the Spurs boss faces a battle with North London rivals Arsenal to secure the signature of the Chelsea and England midfielder.

Redknapp said: "We've declared our interest in Joe to his agent but that is as far as it has gone.

"We are told Joe doesn't want to talk to anyone about any move until after the World Cup is over."

Cole, 28, is available on a free transfer after refusing new terms at Stamford Bridge and Redknapp is keen to work with him for a second time.

Cole was given his first-team break at West Ham when Redknapp bossed the Hammers, before moving to Chelsea for £6.5million seven years ago.

The England star was demanding a wage rise of around £30,000 on top of his £80,000-a-week salary to bring him in line with Chelsea's top earners but the Blues refused.

Arsenal have a strict wage policy but can get around it by offering Camden-born Cole a big signing-on fee as he will cost nothing.

Nicolas Anelka Aiming For More Titles After Signing New Deal

After signing a new contract extension at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is now aiming to take more silverware to west London next season.

The French forward, who was a key player for Carlo Ancelotti's double-winners last season, has scored 42 goals in 123 games for the Blues and has proved himself a formidable partner to Didier Drogba in the Chelsea frontline.

"I aim to score goals and win more titles," Anelka told Chelsea's official website.

"This is the most important thing for everybody, and to enjoy my football and give pleasure to the fans because they come to the games, they want to see good football, they want to see goals, they want to see wins, so this is what I will try to do and we will try to do as a team.

"We start in the league at home to West Brom, and it is nice to start at home - there will be a lot of fans there like always, it will not be an easy game against this kind of team who are newly promoted, but we have a big team and we will do our job."

Anelka also praised Carlo Ancelotti, the club's manager, believing that the Italian was a reason for his own good form last season, which saw him score 15 goals and create many more for his team-mates.

"He won a lot of things in Italy, and you know when you speak with someone like him, he understands what you want and you understand what he wants," continued Anelka.

"It is simple to work with him, easy.

"I know he tried to sign with me for Juventus, but I signed in Real Madrid, but now I am very glad to be here with him, he is a good person, a very good manager and I am glad to be here with him."

Chelsea Set To Snatch Real Madrid Youngster Alipio

Chelsea are set to re-ignite their interest in Real Madrid youngster Alipio after he was made a potential makeweight in Angel Di Maria's Benfica move, according to Marca.

The Brazilian youth international has been a long-term target for the Blues and they came close to landing him before he moved to the Spanish capital a year ago.

Despite being only 17, he is already a star performer in the club's Castilla side and had been earmarked for a future role in the first team.

A return to Portugal was on the cards for the ex-Rio Ave forward to ease Di Maria's £22 million move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti will now reportedly attempt to derail this move with a bid of his own.

Tottenham And Chelsea Battle For Barcelona Dealmaker Begiristain

According to Spanish daily 'Sport', Chelsea and Tottenham are the leading candidates to secure the services of Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristain.

The 45-year-old is a former Barcelona player and Spanish international. He was brought into the Nou Camp as technical secretary in 2003 in order to end a barren four seasons without a trophy and has since helped bring incredible success for the Catalans. Begiristain has overseen the transfers of influential stars such as Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o during his time at the Nou Camp.

However, Barcelona president Joan Laporta's reign will end at the end of the month and it is thought that his close ally Begiristain will also use the opportunity to move on. 'Sport' suggests that Tottenham, Chelsea and Rangers are all interested in securing his services, but that Begiristain is most interested in a move to England.

Chelsea would clearly offer Begiristain the greatest financial incentive and could provide him with the largest budget to work with. Although Begiristain has previously been linked with Tottenham, it remains to be seen whether Harry Redknapp would be willing to share responsibility on matters such as player recruitment.

John Terry's A Top Block, Says Joe Cole

Joe Cole has hailed John Terry as the best defender in the world and described him as the “heartbeat” of the England team.

Terry landed himself in hot water with manager Fabio Capello for calling on the players to challenge him on issues such as bringing Cole into the team. Cole was finally used as a late substitute in the victory over Slovenia, in which Terry bounced back from his problems with a superb performance.

“You can’t knock JT,” said Cole. “He is the best centre-half in the world and some of the blocks and the tackles against Slovenia were brilliant. He is the heartbeat of the side and an exceptional player. We’ve got so many good leaders in the team and it was a great performance from him.”

And despite being limited to a bit-part role so far, Cole has vowed to give everything to England’s cause, whether he is playing 90 minutes or nine. “The main thing is the squad game,” said Cole. “If I get one minute, I’ll fight for that one minute.”

Ballack Returns To Leverkusen On Two-year Deal

Michael Ballack has joined Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year contract. The 33-year-old, who is missing the World Cup through an injury picked up in the FA Cup final victory, was released by Chelsea at the end of last season.

The midfielder is returning to the Bundesliga and his old side, with whom he reached the Champions League final in 2002

"With my transfer to Bayer Leverkusen a circle is complete. I had a beautiful and successful time here, on which I like to look back on a lot," Ballack told the club's website.

"That was a factor in my decision." Ballack added: "But above all the good sporting potential of this young and attractive team were persuasive.

"I am especially looking forward to the great fans, who naturally have been key in my decision to return to Bayer."

Ballack, who spent three years with Bayer before leaving for Bayern Munich in 2002 and then moving on to Chelsea in 2006, will reportedly earn around €12 million over a two-year stay at Bayer.

Steve McClaren's Wolfsburg were also believed to have been interested in him, but Ballack has opted for a return to his old club.

Bayer sporting director is delighted to have signed a player of Ballack's experience, and believes he will help the development of the club's crop of young players.

"With Michael Ballack our team is getting an enormous boost in quality," he said. "Especially our many young players will benefit from his abilities and his experience.

"We did everything to convince Michael. That his preference was for Bayer despite our limited financial possibilities in comparison to the competition shows his emotional attachment to the club."

Salomon Kalou Admits Disappointment At Ivory Coast's Performances

Chelsea attacker Salomon Kalou has admitted pressure at World Cup 2010 has been to blame for Ivory Coast's poor tournament.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side look set to crash out of Group G unless they can turn around a nine-goal disadvantage to Portugal in Friday’s fixtures.

The Elephants were hotly-tipped before the tournament, but a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Brazil has condemned them to an early flight home and they will need a miracle against North Korea.

Speaking to reporters, Kalou blamed high expectations as the cause for the squad's flop.

"Expectations were huge and we owed it to ourselves to perform well. But the pressure has caused us more stress than anything and even inhibited our talents," Kalou said.

"All of us have put lots of pressure on ourselves because this World Cup is being played on our continent.

"There have been a few players who haven't been up to the standard required. Their abilities have been crushed by the pressure they've put on their own shoulders."

My Favourite Games: Scott Sinclair

He may have spent the season away from Stamford Bridge but that did not stop Scott Sinclair sharing his memories of his two favourite matches, one in which he played, and the other which he watched.

Favourite game played:

This may seem an unlikely choice for many but add to the fixture the fact it's your Premier League debut for Chelsea and all will make sense.

Sinclair's favourite game to ever play in was exactly that, when he first donned the senior team's shirt in the Barclays Premier League against Arsenal in May 2007, when a draw saw the Blues relinquish the title to Manchester United.

It was a depleted Chelsea side that travelled to north London as Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Andrey Shevchenko and Arjen Robben all missed the fixture through injury.

Add to it that Khalid Boulahrouz was shown red during the first half; a dwindling Chelsea side were soon down to 10.

Gilberto Silva scored first, netting for the home side two minutes before the break, before Michael Essien evened the scores with a phenomenal strike in the 70th. It was 10 minutes after that Sinclair's debut would arrive.

Swapping for Shaun Wright-Phillips on the wing, under the watchful gaze of Jose Mourinho, Sinclair did well to set up Frank Lampard in the final minute, only for our number eight to narrowly miss the target.

'My favourite game was making my League debut for Chelsea,' says Sinclair, 'it was such a big thing for me. That will always stay in my mind.'

Favourite game watched:

It is proving to be popular. You have to go back five years for Scott's favourite game he's seen, to when he was a 16-year-old watching Liverpool take on Milan in the Final of the Champions League.

Liverpool had sealed their place in the final thanks to a phantom goal against Chelsea in the semis, and went on to produce a pretty dismal display during the first-half against Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan.

They were playing in Istanbul and conceded the first goal with only 50 seconds of football played, when Paulo Maldini struck.

Then, for Milan's second, Andrey Schevchenko crossed for Herman Crespo to tap in at the near post before the Argentine made it three in the 42nd minute.

No one would have blamed you for thinking the game was beyond reach for Liverpool as they returned to the pitch for the second half, but it wasn't.

Instead Steven Gerrard rallied his side for one of the most incredible comebacks in football's recent history.

Heading home a John Arne Riise cross, the Liverpool captain brought belief back to the ranks only nine minutes after the restart.

A further goal then arrived from Vladimir Smicer before Xabi Alonso was given the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot. He missed the initial shot but followed up on the rebound as Dida failed to hold on. It was 3-3 with 30 minutes left.

There would be no more goals in normal or extra-time and Liverpool eventually went on to win the game 3-2 on penalties, as Serginho, Andrea Pirlo and, surprisingly, Shevchenko all missed from the spot.

'How they came back from the 3-0 is amazing,' says Sinclair, 'and in the Champions League Final as well.

'At 3-0 you think the game is done but Gerrard was the difference in that one.'

Chelsea Could Pip Man City To David Silva

Manchester City have been given permission to open talks with Valencia midfielder David Silva, but Chelsea could yet make a move for the player.

Roberto Mancini has been linked with a move for Silva for weeks, and now his Spanish club have agreed to let City talk to the winger. The two clubs have yet to agree a fee but it now seems certain that Silva will be heading to the Premier League.

"As has been said, there is interest from Manchester City and we have permitted them to talk to the player, but we have reached no agreement and we have not talked about a fee," said Valencia's deputy chairman Javier Gomez.

Although City appear to be in pole position to land the midfielder's signature, it is far from certain that he will opt to move to Eastlands. Only on Sunday, Silva spoke of his desire to join Chelsea and the player's agent has again suggested he may prefer a move to Stamford Bridge.

"We're weighing up offers from three clubs and one is Chelsea," his agent, Julio Llorente, told the Daily Mail. "If Silva doesn't want to go to City, the transfer isn't possible."

Silva, currently with Spain at the World Cup finals, is expected to cost in the region of £28 million. While that is small change to owners of both clubs, it could be that Chelsea may prefer to spend big on a striker rather.

Last weekend Silva said of possible interest from Chelsea: "Chelsea have established themselves as one of the best clubs in Europe over the last five years. They might not have the history of Real Madrid or AC Milan but they are creating their own history now.

"There is no reason why in the future Chelsea can't be as decorated as Real Madrid. Chelsea probably have, along with Barcelona, the best squad in football and if any player joins Chelsea he knows he is going to win things.

"In players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, they have players who would get into any team in the world and it would be a pleasure to play with them. There is no doubt in my mind that Chelsea would be a great club to play for - and a club where I could fulfil my ambition of league titles and the European Cup.

"The Premier League is still the place to be. No other league in the world has six or seven Champions League-quality teams."

Ballack Ready To Make His Mind Up

Michael Ballack has declared that he will make a decision on his future in the next fortnight.

The midfielder is on the lookout for a new club after Chelsea confirmed earlier this month that he would not be offered a new deal.

Having spent the past four years at Stamford Bridge, reports suggest that Ballack could now return to his native Germany.

Hamburg, Wolfsburg and Ballack's former club Bayer Leverkusen are understood to be leading the chase and will not have to wait long for his decision.

"I am able to confirm that I am going to make up my mind quickly," the 33-year-old told Bild.

"There will be a decision on my future in the next two weeks."

Leverkusen general manager Rudi Voller, meanwhile, has reiterated that he is hopeful of signing Ballack.

"It would be great news to see Michael returning to our club," stated Voller.

"(Manager) Jupp Heynckes would be extremely happy to see Michael coming back to us."

John Terry Throws Himself Back Into England Favour

It was a freeze-frame moment; a study of determination that appealed to the core of Fabio Capello and what he demands. Having hurled his body in the way of one fierce Slovenian shot, John Terry scrambled up and projected himself, almost horizontally, towards another.

His nose was just about brushing the turf, his neck muscles straining as he desperately tried to stop the ball. He was engulfed in one aim. They will not score. Terry narrowly missed but maybe he had done enough to unsettle the dangerous Valter Birsa and Glen Johnson was there to hack clear.

It was the 68th minute of Wednesday’s match, thick with tension, a tension that only increased, and it was as close as Slovenia came to breaching the England goal. It was also an episode which captured the essence of why Terry remains a remarkably committed, valuable defender even if his stock has dwindled dramatically off-the-field through recent months.

A man who should be an adjutant to captain Steven Gerrard — and by extension Capello — had developed into an agitator with his ill-judged, outspoken interventions of last weekend and his prickly mood around the camp before that. They revealed the strain at the heart of this England squad but also an opportunism that showed his own discontent and the isolation that he was in danger of placing himself in unless he acted.

But on Wednesday he was back on the pitch — a domain he is always more comfortable on than the podium. There was, in the immediate aftermath of the revelations over his private life last spring, evidence that he can steel himself through adversity — as he did scoring for Chelsea away to Burnley — even if he later revealed in subsequent performances that the pressure was showing.

The affair with Wayne Bridge’s former partner cost Terry the captaincy and that has continued to distract him, eat at him and been a factor in his anger that led to the possibility of a mutiny - by one man at least. Terry has since apologised to Capello, to the squad and also, one by one, to the players he named as having gone for a drink following the soulless draw against Algeria and who were horrified to be implicated by him in some kind of conspiracy.

It has surely been another humbling experience for Terry in the past few days but without Rio Ferdinand and with Ledley King injured and Jamie Carragher suspended, England needed him to step forward especially as, alongside him in central defence, Matthew Upson was beset by nerves, passing the ball haphazardly and appearing almost stage-struck. Terry had sought out Gerrard prior to kick-off for one of those pre-match chest kisses and he produced a performance that banished the doubts about his worth to this team.

Had he been anything less than excellent and it may have even become an issue as to whether Capello would leave him out for the last-16 match.

England still remain one poor performance from a crisis, a day of reckoning and accusation and Terry will be central to that shake-out whatever happened. But not on Wednesday.

He played his part on Wednesday, stamping his mark on the contest — there was a fearless recovery tackle after Upson had allowed the ball to bounce over his head, there was a storming run forward after England had scored and time and again he was there to intervene, push his body in the way and block. It’s what he does best. Terry almost scored, also, reaching a deep corner at the far post only for Slovenia’s impressive goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to push his header out. That would have been too much, surely, but Terry was relentless in his protection of the cause, his desire to keep England’s campaign alive.

Upson reacted too. At the death, Terry faltered, the ball running away from him, trying for one more desperate intervention but as substitute Zlato Dedic shaped to shoot, perhaps pulling the trigger to end England’s hopes, end Capello’s reign, it was Upson who threw everything into an emphatic tackle. It was one of which Terry would have been proud and after days in which he had hurt his own reputation and caused angst here was 90 minutes of redemption, 90 minutes of release. Capello will hope the unease as well as the fear has disappeared.