Ballack collects a fateful yellow card (Allsport)

By David Anderson, PA Sport, Seoul

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Michael Ballack has admitted he cried in the German dressing room when it hit home that he would be suspended for the World Cup final.

Ballack appeared to be in total control of his emotions as he stood in the media mixed zone after Germany's semi-final win, discussing his feelings at being ruled out of what should have been the biggest game of his life.

However Ballack, whose goal took Germany to a record seventh final, has revealed he had not been so composed inside the sanctity of the dressing room in the Seoul World Cup stadium.

He claims he now knows how Laurent Blanc felt when he missed the final of France '98 because of suspension.

"I was sad and I even shed a tear or two," he confessed. "Anybody who has been a footballer will know how I feel.

"Four years ago the same thing happened to Laurent Blanc and I felt for him when I watched him on TV.

"It's difficult to say how I feel now because I can't really imagine what it will be like to only sit on the bench for the final.

"Maybe only latter it will really sink in what I'm going to miss.

"Obviously I wish my team-mates every success in the final and I'll be with the team on the pitch in my heart even if I won't be out there with them."

Ballack picked up his second booking of the tournament for a cynical foul on South Korea's Lee Chun-soo just four minutes before scoring the winner.

German coach Rudi Voller claimed the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder had had no option because Lee was in a dangerous position and said he had sacrificed himself for the team and the country.

The 25-year-old seemed almost embarrassed by Voller's praise and he insisted he is no hero.

"I don't think I deserve to be a hero," he said. "I just did what anyone else would have done and these are things that happen in football."

Ballack had scored three goals and provided four assists during Germany's march to the final and Voller claimed he would be "almost impossible" to replace.

His loss is all the greater for Germany because Voller had already been robbed of creative midfielders Mehmet Scholl and Sebastian Deisler before the tournament started through injury.

"It's almost impossible to replace Michael Ballack adequately," said Voller.

"If the team gets into a bad situation he can turn the match around by scoring a goal or providing an assist. It's going to be nigh on impossible to replace him."

Ballack, though, talked down his absence and he claims the team have already shown great resilience in reaching the final when almost everyone felt they had no chance.

"The team has gained in self-confidence as the tournament has gone on and nothing really can throw us off balance," he said.

"It was not on the cards that we would get to the final, yet here we are and I think we can win it."