New Chelsea signing Ballack opened the scoring

Captain Michael Ballack outjumped two Colombia defenders to head in a Bastian Schweinsteiger free-kick from the left in the 21st minute.

Schweinsteiger scored from long range 16 minutes later from another set-piece as Germany took control.

Midfielder Tim Borowski came off the bench to make it 3-0 in the 69th minute with a long-range shot.

Germany put in a tight defensive display after Ballack had publicly challenged the team on Thursday to go through 90 minutes without conceding a goal.

Jurgen Klinsmann's side were beaten by Italy 4-1 in March and Japan could have scored six or more in Leverkusen in Tuesday's 2-2 draw had goalkeeper Jens Lehmann not played so well.

Germany's better defensive display had much to do with the return of left-back Philipp Lahm, who was playing for the first time since injuring his elbow last month

After two years of experimentation, Klinsmann seems to have find a back four for Germany's opening game against Costa Rica on 9 June, with Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder joined by Lahm and Arne Friedrich.

Schweinsteiger also seemed to benefit as well by Lahm's return on the left.

Germany: Lehmann, Metzelder, Friedrich, Lahm (Hitzlsperger 86), Mertesacker, Ballack, Schneider (Borowski 61), Frings (Kehl 71), Schweinsteiger (Jansen 73), Klose (Neuville 61), Podolski (Asamoah 71).
Subs Not Used: Kahn, Hildebrand, Nowotny, Hanke, Huth, Odonkor.

Goals: Ballack 21, Schweinsteiger 37, Borowski 69.

Colombia: Oscar Cordoba, Orozco, Pachon, Perea, Jose Moreno, Vargas (Valencia 76), Viafara (Castrillon 53), Patino (Murillo 62), Soto (Guarin 77), Arizala, Tressor Moreno (Rodallega 46).
Subs Not Used: Martinez, De la Cuesta, Passo, Yanez, Velez, Nasera, Palacio.

Booked: Vargas, Viafara, Pachon.

Att: 45,000

Ref: Terje Hauge (Norway).