Germany fans are turning their anger on Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng. Ghana's World Cup clash with Germany could see Boateng pitted against his home country 39 days after his tackle put their captain, Michael Ballack, out of the World Cup.

The Portsmouth midfielder, who was booked for the reckless challenge during last Saturday's FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea, has become a hate figure in Germany.

Berlin-born Boateng has a German mother and Ghanaian father, Prince, who told the Hamburg Morning Post: "Kevin's the whipping boy again. It's always twice as bad when anything happens with a Boateng. It upsets me a lot.

"But you have to look at the whole story. (In 2006) Kevin had just scored his first goal for Hertha (Berlin). Then they played Bayern Munich. He had an argument with Ballack.

"Ballack said to him, 'You've scored one goal, and you think you are the best!' Kevin has never forgotten.

"Unfortunately, Kevin isn't diplomatic. But I am sure, even if he did foul Ballack, he didn't mean to injure him."