Germany captain Ballack gives a cautious World Cup outlook

May 9, 2006, 18:17 GMT

Hamburg - Germany captain Michael Ballack has mixed feelings about the host team's chances at the upcoming World Cup and said the experience of defender Jens Nowotny could be useful for the team.

'Everyone must be aware that this young team can achieve a positive surprise - but also crash out early,' Ballack said in a World Cup special of the Sport Bild weekly published Tuesday.

Ballack said said that the team was not consistent enough to name 'the quarter- or semi-finals the ninimum goal.

'Many players are still in a learning process, they are yet to peak. We have many players who would be eligible for the under-21 national team. That says a lot,' he said.

In order to add some experience, Ballack, at 29 himself one of the seniors, said that the 32-year-old central defender Nowotny would do the team good 'with his class and international experience.'

The Bayer Leverkusen player Nowotny last played for Germany in 2004, but is now back in splendid form after several injury setbacks.

Nowotny is in competition with youngsters Lukas Sinkiewicz and Manuel Friedrich for a place on the squad.

Ballack, who will likely join English champions Chelsea from Bayern Munich after the World Cup, said the decision was up to coach Juergen Klinsmann and his staff, but that he as captain will be asked as well for an opinion in certain cases.

Klinsmann will nominate his 23-player roster next Monday, just hours before the midnight deadline of the ruling body FIFA.

Germany leave for a first training camp in Sardinia next Tuesday, with another camp in Switzerland and three final buildup games following in the final countdown to the first match on June 9, the World Cup opener against Costa Rica in Munich.

Germany's other opponents in group A are Poland and Ecuador.