Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack insists Germany are under as much pressure to win as England today - if not more.

Ballack signed with Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.

"Germany is a nation which must always win," said former Chelsea midfielder Ballack, who missed the finals through injury. "You are only respected when you win. It's awful for the team when they can only really enjoy the tournament from the semi-finals.

"Anything else would mean failure. That does push you and motivate you, but it is a merciless game. To start with, the aim is purely to avoid a total catastrophe and the destruction of individual reputations."