Hamburg - The fairy tales are over for German football as national team manager Oliver Bierhoff urged hard work for future success in an interview published on Saturday.

"We must realize that the summer fairy tale, and the summer fairy tale 'reloaded' - if you want to give Euro 2008 this name - is over ... We must be down to earth again," Bierhoff told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Germany's run to third place at the home World Cup in 2006 was referred to as the summer fairy tale in the euphoric country and the team then made it into the Euro 2008 final, losing to Spain.

Germany had a successful start into the World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign with three wins and a draw, but a 2-1 defeat against England and disputes of captain Michael Ballack with Bierhoff and coach Joachim Loew underlined that not everything is going well.

"Michael and I are not always on the same wavelength and have different views on certain issues," said Bierhoff.

The manager said that Ballack was aware that he could achieve certain things by going public, but that the Chelsea star is now ready to be a team player after being reprimanded by Loew.

Bierhoff also admitted to personal mistakes in the interview, saying he did not always act well in public. (dpa)