German international Michael Ballack hit the goal trail ahead of the 2004 European championships scoring four goals in Germany's 7-0 annihilation of Malta here on Thursday.
Bayern Munich midfielder Ballack, 27, has failed to find his
midas touch in front of goal this season but rattled in four goals
against Malta to boost confidence ahead of the Portugal finals.
Ballack, linked with a 12-million-euro move to Barcelona in
midweek, opened the scoring with a left-footed shot on the quarter
hour mark.
The Malta defence afforded him am ocean of space, something he
is unlikely to get in Portugal, and made the same mistake two
minutes later when Ballack headed in a Philipp Lahm cross.
Further goals from Jens Nowotny and Torsten Frings saw Germany,
captained by Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann, coasting through the
second period carving chance after chance. Fredi Bobic should have had a hat-trick, instead settling for a late goal, but it was Ballack who grabbed that honour scrambling the ball into the net in the 59th minute.
A fourth goal followed for Ballack after Malta had their goalkeeper sent off for a challenge on Miroslav Klose.
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German international Michael Ballack hit the goal trail ahead of the 2004 European championships scoring four goals in Germany's 7-0 annihilation of Malta here on Thursday.
Bayern Munich midfielder Ballack, 27, has failed to find his
midas touch in front of goal this season but rattled in four goals
against Malta to boost confidence ahead of the Portugal finals.
Ballack, linked with a 12-million-euro move to Barcelona in
midweek, opened the scoring with a left-footed shot on the quarter
hour mark.
The Malta defence afforded him am ocean of space, something he
is unlikely to get in Portugal, and made the same mistake two
minutes later when Ballack headed in a Philipp Lahm cross.
Further goals from Jens Nowotny and Torsten Frings saw Germany,
captained by Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann, coasting through the
second period carving chance after chance. Fredi Bobic should have had a hat-trick, instead settling for a late goal, but it was Ballack who grabbed that honour scrambling the ball into the net in the 59th minute.
A fourth goal followed for Ballack after Malta had their goalkeeper sent off for a challenge on Miroslav Klose.
