Ballack ties knot

BERLIN: Chelsea star and Germany skipper Michael Ballack put his Euro 2008 heartbreak behind him by tying the knot with long-term girlfriend Simone on Monday. The ceremony in a village near Munich was attended by 400 guests, including Chelsea team-mates and German footballing legend Franz Beckenbauer. The couple met in the late 1990s after Simone — a waitress at the time — was introduced to Ballack by coach Otto Rehhagel when they were both at German first division side Kaiserslautern. Germany reached Euro final against Spain in Vienna, losing to a solitary goal from Fernando Torres. — AFP