Germany’s World Cup squad could be without their captain and charismatic player Michael Ballack.
Ballack suffered an ankle injury in Chelsea’s FA Cup match against Portsmouth, after a late tackle by Kevin-Prince Boateng. The 33-year-old was set to play in his third World Cup. The ankle too swollen to undergo a scan.
Chelsea's Michael Ballack was fouled by Kevin Prince Boateng of Portsmouth during the FA Cup Final on May 15, 2010.
Ballack said:
“There’s naturally a lot of disappointment. It’s bitter to get a diagnosis like that two or three weeks before the World Cup. But that’s football. That happens. Life goes on.”
“He is naturally disappointed. I’ll fly down there now and we’ll let it all sink in.”
German Coach- Joachim Loew said he had been shocked by the news and added:
“Michael Ballack is a very important player for us, in the decisive matches he often played a very, very important role for us, a central role for us. I talked to Michael. He’s deeply disappointed. He put all his energy and power into playing in this World Cup. He’s near his 100th cap. That would have been a match in Frankfurt against Bosnia. That’s an immense disappointment for him to not be able to play in this World Cup.”
The DFB said Ballack has suffered a tear of one ankle ligament and a partial tear of another.
“According to the diagnosis today by national team physician, Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, a complete recovery can be expected but a return to training will not be possible for at least eight weeks,”
said a statement.
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