Sami Khedira, the Germany midfielder, does not want to be compared with Michael Ballack, the man he is set to replace at the World Cup. The Stuttgart midfielder is the likely beneficiary of Ballack's injury-enforced withdrawal from the squad, taking his place in the centre of the midfield alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger, but the 23-year-old says it would be wrong to compare the two. "That would not be fair on Ballack," he told reporters at Germany's training camp in Sudtirol yesterday.
"After all he has done for German football, it is not justified to compare me with him. I still have to develop a lot to get to his level - he is a world-class player; I am a bit away from that. "My aim is to reach that level, but I have my own game and my own character so cannot be compared with other players or Ballack." Nevertheless, Khedira has been the focus of much of the attention since the news broke that Ballack would not be going to South Africa.
After leading Germany's Under 21s to glory at the European championships last summer, Khedira is set for his second major tournament, but he is no more nervous about it than he was in Sweden last summer. "Why should I create more pressure or make myself go crazy?" he asked. "This is just what I want - I just want to play football. I want to help the team and, as I have said, it is very bitter that Ballack is out, but this is my chance and I have got to take it. I am trying to do that now with the way I present myself in training."
Khedira has made only three appearances for the senior Germany team, but he added: "I have been a professional footballer for many years and have made nearly 100 Bundesliga appearances and appeared in Champions League games so I do think I have plenty of international experience. I may not have the experience of 50 or 60 caps, but I always aim to play to win and that can compensate for a lot." * PA
