Mexico had come from behind three times to send the game into extra-time at 3-3 but in the 97th minute Ballack swerved a free-kick from the edge of the area past Oswaldo Sanchez.

"I do not want it to be that exciting all the time," confessed Ballack. "We need to sort out the defence but on a positive note we are scoring goals and won the game."

Germany were relieved after throwing away the lead three times, and it could have been four had Luis Perez not blazed a shot wide in the final minute.

Striker Mike Hanke was sent off in the 54th minute for a late tackle.

In what was supposed to be a friendly match Hanke clattered into Carlos Salcido with the ball long gone and received a straight red card for his petulance.

At the time of the incident Germany led 2-1 thanks to goals from Lukas Podolski (37min) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (41) but Mexico equalised again through Jared Borgetti after 58 minutes.

Robert Huth then put Germany in front for the third time in the 79th minute but Borgetti equalised with a bullet header six minutes later.

But it was Ballack who had the final say scoring his fourth goal in this competition - the other three have been penalty kicks.

"It is great to win the third place match," enthused German coach Jurgen Klinsmann. "We have only been developing one year and there is more to come."

Mexico, who were exhausted after playing 120 minutes in the semi-final defeat against Argentina, will rue some defensive lapses here, but can take heart from a 1-0 win over world champions Brazil in the group stage.

"We have seen that no-one in this tournament is better than us," said Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe. "Two years of hard work are starting to pay off."

Germany, who lost the 2002 World Cup final 2-0 to Brazil, have produced some cavalier entertaining football in this competition but the number of goals conceded is a concern ahead of the 2006 World Cup.

In five Confederations Cup games the hosts have shipped in 11 goals and goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, celebrating his 80th cap, must wonder what is going on.

In his two matches at this competition he has conceded six goals with Australia scoring three in their 4-3 defeat.