Germany coach Joachim Low feels Michael Ballack is maturing as a captain and has praised him for his attitude in the friendly loss to Norway.Low and Ballack hardly saw eye to eye towards the end of 2008 when the Chelsea midfielder's international career hung in the balance after he criticised the coach for showing a lack of respect to the older members of the squad.
However, a clear-the-air meeting in October resolved their differences and Low reckons Ballack is now more important than ever.
"You got the feeling in our last game that Ballack communicated more with the players," Low told this week's Stern magazine. "That is good."
Ballack's national team colleagues also noticed a difference in the 32-year-old.
"He took the initiative more with players and he did not do that all that often in the past," said Bayern Munich full-back Philipp Lahm.
"That is what you expect from a captain."
Germany face Liechtenstein in Leipzig on March 28 and then travel to Cardiff to take on Wales four days later.
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As great as Ballack has been for his country, a suitable replacement has to be found. He has been relied on too much (and still is!) and he'll be captaining the Mannschaft when he's 45 at this rate
Miss him when he's gone, though
ballack is 1 of the worlds great footballers. chelsea haters can come argue if they want but its true. great career that still isnt over
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