I remember finding myself in rumination after the 2002 world cup final, "what might've been". Michael Ballack wasn't allowed to play that match due to suspension, but had been Germany's engine all through that run. He was without a doubt in my mind, the most complete player of that world cup. Not the best, mind you, that honour belonged to Ronaldo. But the most versatile and indispensable to his team. In 2006, Ballack did not arrive to his country's world cup 100%, and underperformed. Especially against Italy. His world cup performance was just a shadow from four years earlier in Korea/Japan, but in his defence, he was coming off from an injury. In these last few years the length of the futbol calendar and the strain it causes on players has left us with underachieving stars when these big summer tournaments arrive. Whether it may be a world cup or in this case, the European Championships. These players arrive too tired, injured and futbol weary to the big date. So timing is everything. If you need to get injured, do so exactly when Ronaldo did six months before the 2002 world cup or just like Ballack this year, in the first semester. This allows the player to return fresh, rested and in time to get some sense of rhythm back through a few matches under his belt. Or in Ballack's case, get the whole second half of the year under his belt. He has been incrementally essential to Chelsea's ambitions, and has lived up to the expectations during the final stretch of the season. Allowing the Chelsea follower to be justifiedly optimistic about the showdown in Moscow, and raising the already high German hopes for this summer as he captains the national team. It seems to me, that lately, some of what Beckenbauer says needs to be taken with a grain of salt. I respect him and his legacy just as much, or more than anybody. But he's been accused of being out of touch with his players and in general with the actual futbol environment-something I don't completely agree with. But just a few days ago, he predicted that Ballack would be the deciding factor in Chelsea's victory in Moscow and as elemental in a memorable summer for Germany. Now I'm not in the predicting business and hate to be futuristic, especially when it comes to futbol. But I'm inclined to agree with Beckenbauer this time around. Ballack is hitting his stride, and that's just what Avam Grant, and Joachim Loew were longing for. Could this be, the summer of Michael Ballack?