Boosted by the return of their inspirational captain Michael Ballack hosts Germany have the chance to book a place in the second round of the World Cup when they face Poland in Dortmund tomorrow.
DORTMUND: Boosted by the return of their inspirational captain Michael Ballack hosts Germany have the chance to book a place in the second round of the World Cup when they face Poland in Dortmund tomorrow.
Ballack declared himself fit for the Friday opening match with Costa Rica, which Germany won 4-2, but manager Jurgen Klinsmann decided not to risk his calf injury and omitted him from the starting line-up.
But the skipper has successfully returned to training and is expected to reclaim the captain's armband from Bernd Schneider.
"I came through training and am now looking forward to playing tomorrow," Ballack said.
"We want to reach the last 16 and hope the fantastic fans in Dortmund can push us to victory," Ballack said.
"Poland are under pressure and there is a lot of discontent back home after their defeat to Ecuador so we should beware."
Poland lost 2-0 to Ecuador in their first match and if Germany can also taste victory over their neighbours they will become the first team to qualify for the knockout stage.
"Polish players know their public are not happy and realise it is all or nothing," Klinsmann said.
"They will be fired up to do everything they can to stay in this tournament. It will be a heated encounter."
Germany would field two Polish-born strikers in attack with Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, born in the Polish cities of Opole and Gliwice respectively, admitting the game would be an emotional occasion.
"It will be special and a bit strange to hear the Polish national anthem and then the German one afterwards," explained Podolski. I will not sing either of them because I feel at home in both countries. I have not quite lost my Polish heart."
Poland scouts will be asking themselves how the duo slipped through the net and ended up representing old foes Germany.
Coach Pawel Janas admits Germany's attack is a concern but felt their leaky defence was a cause for optimism.
"They are a dangerous team when they attack and they score a lot of goals but the defence is not as good," he said.
Legendary Polish striker Zbigniew Boniek, part of the team that finished third at the 1982 World Cup, agreed.
"Any team with an intelligent player that can thread a pass between the centre-backs will have a lot of joy against Germany," Boniek declared.
Poland's star striker Ebi Smolarek, playing on the ground where he plays for club side Borussia Dortmund, would hope to prosper against the suspect German defence, but would be shackled by his club team-mate Christoph Metzelder.
Poland and Germany have met twice in the World Cup and the latter holds the upper hand.
At the 1974 World Cup hosts West Germany defeated Poland 1-0 in Frankfurt as they went on to lift the title.
Four years later in Argentina the two nations met again and the game finished 0-0.
In 14 meetings Germany have never lost against Poland - winning ten and drawing the other four - and Germany have also never tasted defeat in Dortmund. "I do not think Poland will be concerned with statistics," Klinsmann said. "But I hope our tradition of positive results continues tomorrow."
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