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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Germany
<SPAN class=art-title2>Bayern Munich's Flying Dutchman</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
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<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Mark van Bommel celebrates with Bastian after scoring for new club Bayern Munich in a Bundesliga match against Alemannia Aachen in Munich on 23 September 2006.
</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(REUTERS)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>ALEXANDRA BEIER
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">04 Dec 2006</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Michael Ballack's close-season departure from Bayern Munich to English champions Chelsea left Germany's most successful club with a gaping hole to fill in midfield. For four years, Ballack had pulled the strings in the middle of the park for Bayern, where his creative play and aerial prowess were greatly enhanced by a knack for scoring vital goals.
Although Ballack was clearly going to be a hard act to follow, Bayern initially hoped to find a replacement from within their existing squad. However, with the most obvious contender, Sebastian Deisler, once again falling prey to injury, and neither the Iranian Ali Karimi nor Paraguay's Roque Santa Cruz able to convince in the role of playmaker in pre-season, the Bavarianssnapped up Mark van Bommelfrom Barcelona shortly before the transfer window closed.
The 29-year-old Dutch international had just enjoyed fantastic success with Barca, helping them to a UEFA Champions League and Spanish League double. Furthermore, the challenge of stepping into Ballack's boots was one he was clearly relishing when his new club presented him to the media for the first time: "I came to Bayern to win trophies, that's a given," said a self-assured Van Bommel, "Bayern Munich always want to win trophies."
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The Dutchman wasted no time in proving he meant business, scoring against Arminia Bielefeld on hisBundesliga debut, and again in the next match, against Alemannia Aachen. Of his early success, Van Bommel said: "It's good to get on the scoresheet so soon after moving to a new club. It's not one of my real strengths, but it certainly helps integrate you into the team." In the games that followed, Van Bommel cemented his status as Bayern's new midfield maestro.<TABLE id=IMGTAB height=150 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR id=TRCAP><TD vAlign=bottom align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Another game, another goal for Van Bommel as he celebrates scoring against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga in Munich on 28 October 2006.</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRSOURCE><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(REUTERS)</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRAUTHOR><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>MICHAEL DALDER</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Fully focussed on Bayern
His impressive form was not lost on Netherlands coach Marco van Basten either. After dropping V
<SPAN class=art-title2>Bayern Munich's Flying Dutchman</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=paddingall><TD vAlign=top>
<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Mark van Bommel celebrates with Bastian after scoring for new club Bayern Munich in a Bundesliga match against Alemannia Aachen in Munich on 23 September 2006.</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(REUTERS)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>ALEXANDRA BEIER
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">04 Dec 2006</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Michael Ballack's close-season departure from Bayern Munich to English champions Chelsea left Germany's most successful club with a gaping hole to fill in midfield. For four years, Ballack had pulled the strings in the middle of the park for Bayern, where his creative play and aerial prowess were greatly enhanced by a knack for scoring vital goals.
Although Ballack was clearly going to be a hard act to follow, Bayern initially hoped to find a replacement from within their existing squad. However, with the most obvious contender, Sebastian Deisler, once again falling prey to injury, and neither the Iranian Ali Karimi nor Paraguay's Roque Santa Cruz able to convince in the role of playmaker in pre-season, the Bavarianssnapped up Mark van Bommelfrom Barcelona shortly before the transfer window closed.
The 29-year-old Dutch international had just enjoyed fantastic success with Barca, helping them to a UEFA Champions League and Spanish League double. Furthermore, the challenge of stepping into Ballack's boots was one he was clearly relishing when his new club presented him to the media for the first time: "I came to Bayern to win trophies, that's a given," said a self-assured Van Bommel, "Bayern Munich always want to win trophies."
<TABLE id=SLIVER cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Dutchman wasted no time in proving he meant business, scoring against Arminia Bielefeld on hisBundesliga debut, and again in the next match, against Alemannia Aachen. Of his early success, Van Bommel said: "It's good to get on the scoresheet so soon after moving to a new club. It's not one of my real strengths, but it certainly helps integrate you into the team." In the games that followed, Van Bommel cemented his status as Bayern's new midfield maestro.<TABLE id=IMGTAB height=150 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR id=TRCAP><TD vAlign=bottom align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Another game, another goal for Van Bommel as he celebrates scoring against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga in Munich on 28 October 2006.</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRSOURCE><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(REUTERS)</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRAUTHOR><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>MICHAEL DALDER</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Fully focussed on BayernHis impressive form was not lost on Netherlands coach Marco van Basten either. After dropping V