Ballack buoyed by form

Michael Ballack is confident he will be taking his end-of-season form with Chelsea into the European Championship.

The Germany international was an influential figure as Chelsea took the Premier League title race to the final day and reached the UEFA Champions League final, only to lose out to Manchester United in both competitions.

Ballack has also been tipped to shine at Euro 2008 and the experienced midfielder feels he has benefited from his time in English football.

"The Premier League has certainly improved me as a footballer and I have received a lot of praise in the last few weeks," said Ballack.

"I think after my injury, I found some good form and I'm happy to be playing in such a strong league which demands so much from you and puts you under

pressure every weekend.

"Great football is played there and I think everybody takes that with them into the national team."

Concerned

Meanwhile, Ballack has criticised a Polish newspaper for producing a picture of Poland coach Leo Beenhakker holding the severed heads of the former Bayern Munich star and Germany boss Joachim Low.

"We have seen the pictures re-printed in the German dailies, it doesn't really make us jump for joy," added Ballack.

"There are some people who are cynical enough to just accept this is an everyday occurence and there is nothing you can do about it.

"But I, for one, am a little bit more concerned about it, this is just a football match and this sort of thing should not be printed.

"It doesn't become football as a sport."

Source: www.sportinglife.com