Posts Tagged ‘2010 World Cup’
Ballack will still have to be patient
Michael Ballack, captain of Germany until 2010 World Cup, should not be part of selection revealed by Joachim Loew on Friday to face Belgium and Azerbaijan in qualifying for Euro 2012 (Gr.A ) reports bi-weekly Kicker.
According to Kicker, Loew who attended the Championship match between Bayer Leverkusen and Dortmund, Germany (2-0), found that Ballack, 33, was still short of fitness.
And as the coach requires players a perfect physical condition, Ballack (98 caps) will have to wait to get the shirt of the Nationalmannschaft and reach the symbolic level of 100 selections, Kicker said, without giving the source of his information.
Deprived of the 2010 World Cup because of an injured right ankle, Ballack returned to training in early August with his new club, Bayer Leverkusen and played a Bundesliga match and the second from the dam to move the Europa League against the Ukrainians in Simferopol (3-0).
Former player of Bayern Munich and Chelsea will not participate Thursday dam back in Ukraine since remained in Germany to work on his fitness.
Loew will unveil Friday mid-day the list of players selected to face Belgium on September 3 and September 7 Azerbaijan.
The coach of the vice-champions of Europe 2008 must also decide which of Ballack and Philipp Lahm will now be its captain.
In case of non-selection of Ballack, he could postpone the announcement of his decision, he should go public in early September, several weeks.