Sport

Ballack keeps Germany top as Wales' faint hopes are ended

GROUP FOUR: Wales 0 Germany 2: THE OUTCOME was all too predictable but pride has been restored in these parts

STUART JAMES at the Millennium Stadium
Thu Apr 02 2009 - 01:00

GROUP FOUR: Wales 0 Germany 2:THE OUTCOME was all too predictable but pride has been restored in these parts. That alone will offer John Toshack some comfort as the Wales manager surveys the fall-out from the back-to-back defeats in the space of five days that have brought an end to faint hopes of reaching the finals.

There is certainly no disgrace in losing in this fashion to a Germany side replete with experience and power and blessed with the talents of the imperious Michael Ballack.

Wales proved to be belligerent for long periods and, but for Robert Enke’s superb, one-handed save from Robert Earnshaw, might have made the final half hour a touch more uncomfortable for Germany.

Instead Joachim Low’s side, aided by an unfortunate Ashley Williams own goal early in the second half, were able to stroll towards a routine victory.

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This promised to be a long night for Wales long before Ballack’s 30-yard shot fizzed into the top corner after 11 minutes.

Ballack has been deployed in a holding role recently for Chelsea but there was more licence to break forward here. It was an invitation he relished as he gave Germany the lead and set up two wonderful chances to extend their advantage with dexterous lay-offs that Mario Gomes drilled wide and Lukas Podolski arrowed towards the far corner only for Wayne Hennessey to beat away.

Wales conceded the second in the most farcical of circumstances three minutes after the restart. There appeared little danger as Collins chased Gomez towards the byline, but the West Ham defender allowed himself to be bundled off the ball before the Stuttgart striker delivered a low centre that Ashley Williams, unaware no one was breathing down his neck, prodded into his net.

Guardian Service

WALES:Hennessey, Ricketts (Gunter 53), Ashley Williams, Collins, Nyatanga (Cotterill 74), Davies, Ramsey, Ledley, Bale, Earnshaw, Vokes (Evans 62). Subs not used: Myhill, Fletcher, Robinson, Edwards.

GERMANY:Enke, Beck, Mertesacker, Rolfes (Westermann 78), Lahm, Schweinsteiger (Helmes 86), Tasci, Ballack, Hitzlsperger, Podolski (Trochowski 72), Gomez. Subs not used: Wiese, Hinkel, Marin, Schafer. Booked: Rolfes. Goals: Ballack 11, Williams 48 og.

Referee:Terje Haunge (Norway).