At 35 years old, former Germany captain Michael Ballack is nearing the end of a long and very impressive career as a footballer. Yet, instead of admitting that age is catching up to him, as it does everyone, Ballack has decided that his diminishing place as a footballer is due to a series of conspiracies that may or may not involve aliens (OK, he didn't say that.

It may be time to review some of the informal rules that govern the weighty Designated Player decisions in Major League Soccer.

Check that. It's time to review some of the informal rules that should govern the weighty Designated Player decisions in Major League Soccer.

Bayern Munich youngster Thomas Muller has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to join then-Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea in the aftermath of Germany's impressive 2010 World Cup campaign.

Muller, who won the Golden Boot with his five goals as well as three assists in South Africa, contributed to the demolition of Argentina and England before the Germans exited the tournament with a 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Spain.

Tottenham Hotspur captain Michael Dawson will miss most of the Champions League group stage matches after picking up an Achilles injury that could keep him sidelined for two months.

Dawson, who sat out Saturday's 2-0 win at Wolves, picked up the injury in training. Defenders William Gallas and Vedran Corluka also missed the Premier League clash at Molineux due to injury and with Lesley King's damaged knees restricting his playing time, Spurs look very short of bodies in the heart of their defence.

Former Germany captain Michael Ballack (34) has refused the German FA's offer of a farewell game against Brazil, adding: 'To call a friendly match that was arranged long ago a farewell match is a farce in my opinion'.

Germany International Jerseys

Tottenham vs Blackpool 2011 White Hart Lane- 7/5/2011- 7 May, 2011 Final score:- Tottenham vs Blackpool 1-1 ( Jermain Defoe/ Charlie Adam penalty) A game full of excitement. Gareth Bale suffered a serious looking injury after a foul by Charlie Adam. Spurs captain Michael Dawson conceded a penalty, only for keeper Heurelho Gomes to save [.

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Bayer Leverkusen went second in the Bundesliga table on Sunday with a 4-2 win at home to strugglers VfB Stuttgart that dropped their guests further into the relegation battle. With bottom side Moenchengladbach beating Schalke on Sunday evening, only five points now separate the bottom five clubs and Stuttgart, the 2007 German [.

Photo by Commander Idham

In what was an important game for both teams, it was Tottenham that huffed and puffed and finally showed their class to overcome a dogged Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light Saturday.

In a week where Tottenham were beaten to the Olympic Stadium by rival bidders West Ham, this win kept them on track for Europe and propelled them into a Champions League place.

LONDON, England — Edin Dzeko opened his goalscoring account for Manchester City to salvage a 1-1 draw with Notts County as Tottenham were sent crashing out of the FA Cup in a humiliating 4-0 rout by Fulham on Sunday. Bosnian striker Dzeko netted in the 80th minute to rescue City, who were left staring down [.

DORTMUND, Germany — Borussia Dortmund extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 13 points on Friday, blitzing second-placed Bayer Leverkusen with three goals in just six minutes for a 3-1 win at home. Having already begun 2011 with a ten-point lead, Dortmund hit second-half goals in quick succession from teenager Mario Goetze [.