Germany and Ghana Shine Without Captains Michael Ballack and Michael Essien

As England found out, losing your captain can be damaging. Although Steven Gerrard did a good job captaining quite a faltering team, The Three Lions could have really done with the services of Rio Ferdinand. In fact, give any team a situation where they’d lose their skipper to injury, it wouldn’t be one any fan is likely to want to envisage. However, two nations exceeded expectations without their influential, star-player captains.

Ghana were Africa’s sole representatives in the knockout phase of this World Cup, and became the third ever African side to reach the Quarter Finals. An achievement made even more remarkable by the fact their star man, and only world superstar, Michael Essien, missed the tournament through injury. Quite how the Ghanaians managed to lead a continent’s dream (and nearly made history if not for a certain Mr L. Suarez), without the Chelsea midfielder, really deserves some plaudits.

Ballack’s injury, (ironically caused by German-born Ghana representative Kevin-Prince Boateng) looked to be a firm nail in Germany’s World Cup coffin, with many at home writing them off before they had even flown out to South Africa. As it turned out, the Germans’ young side excelled without an ultra ego dominating their squad. Probably playing the best football throughout this tournament, they really were unlucky to only make the Semi Finals.

Of course, this is not a message telling teams they’re better off without their captains. For some nations, such as England, Spain and the Netherlands, you need an experienced player to lead a team full of big egos. However, Germany and Ghana had sides built up of young players who were not mentioned in the same breath as their injured captains before the tournament began. The loss of such a superstar allowed these teams to rely less on their star man, and more on teamwork and good football.

Another advantage of these injuries is that new stars have been born. Bastian Schweinstieger took on Ballack’s responsibility, and was undoubtedly brilliant. Ballack’s replacement in the side, Mesut Ozil, has used this World Cup to burst onto the world scene. A tricky midfielder, he has been one of the stars of these finals, managers all over Europe will surely be sending enquiries to his club Werder Bremen. Sami Khedira has also showed his potential with superb displays throughout the competition.

Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng may have been filled with agony after his FA Cup final penalty miss in May, but he too rose from the flames left by Essien’s injury, becoming a star of this World Cup with his impressive displays for Ghana. In truth, the Ghanaians had several replacements for Essien’s position, so tactically this was not a major problem. However, it is always handy to have someone with his ability in your team.

Of course, the injuries are of no advantage to the subjected players. Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien would have undoubtedly wanted to lead Ghana, and Africa, towards trying to make history in these finals, and Ballack (recently released by Chelsea) would surely have longed for one last opportunity to get his hands on the World Cup. Despite their personal heartache, I’m sure both players will be able to look back at this tournament and celebrate their teammates’ success, even if it came at the expensive of an injury to themselves, their nations’ captains and star men.