World Cup 2010 - Injured Ballack out of World Cup
Germany captain Michal Ballack has been ruled out of the World Cup after injuring his ankle in Chelsea's FA Cup final win over Portsmouth.
It was also a personal setback for 33-year-old Ballack, who was set to play at his third World Cup and is unlikely to get another chance to perform on the sport's biggest stage.
The Chelsea midfielder was injured in the first half of Saturday's FA Cup final against Portsmouth, limping off during during his team's 1-0 win after a late tackle by Kevin-Prince Boateng.
The ankle was so badly swollen that a planned scan on Sunday had to be postponed until Monday morning.
"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," Ballack told German television.
"He (Germany coach Joachim Loew) is naturally disappointed.
I'll fly down there now and we'll let it all sink in," added Ballack, who broke off the interview and hobbled away on crutches.
Loew said he had been shocked by the news.
"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," he said.
"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.
"I called the team together and passed along the information. It's very, very unfortunate for us. But it shows we have to pull all our strength together and look forward. We've got a lot of young players".
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.
German-born Boateng, booked for the tackle, is in the provisional squad of Germany's first-round opponents Ghana.
DFB president Theo Zwanziger expressed anger at the tackle.
"I'm deeply sad that Michael Ballack will miss the World Cup because of a foul like that. He has done an enormous amount for German football in the last few years and would have deserved to take part in this tournament," he said.
Ballack won the first of his 98 caps against Scotland in 1999 and helped Germany reached the 2002 World Cup final and third place four years ago, when they hosted the tournament.
Germany face Australia, Serbia and Ghana in Group D at the World Cup starting next month.
"It's bitter that the captain, with such experience is out of the tournament," Germany defender Philipp Lahm said at Bayern Munich's training ground.
"I also feel personally sorry for him, because it would have been his last World Cup".
"It's a loss for the team, because of his personality and responsibilities, but I am convinced that we can still play a good World Cup without him," added Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lahm's Bayern and Germany team-mate. "We have a lot of quality".
Loew was already under fire for leaving Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi out of the squad, despite the player's impressive tally of 18 Bundesliga goals this season.
Loew's chosen strikers, Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Mario Gomez, have all struggled to hit the target.
Comment 278 - 297 of 297
i commend boateng for not retaliating after he received the slap and making ballack pay with the tackle. its good that players like ballack know that there are repercussions for their arrogant attitude. in fact had ballack gotten a red card for the initial slap then he may have been able to play in the world cup.
It should not be presumed that Kevin intentionally kicked Ballack to deprive him of the opportunity to feature for Germany in South Africa and I also believe that Ballack slapped Kevin out of anger which under normal circumstances he would not do. Ballack is a fine gentleman and I hope he gets well to play in SA. The two players' actions on the field was very unfortunate and I hope other players will learn a lesson from this. We should not mis-read into their actions.
lolololololololololololol your mama so fat when she jumped in the air she got stuck lolololololololololololol
nonsence., !! hes not the only one missing World cup .., many others who have gotten injuries during leagues..!! maybe wish him a quick recovery !!, but he too plays bad football, he shud not confront tacklers coz hes a natural born tacklist himself
A brutal and senseless foul puts Germany's hopes to reach the semi-finals to rest. As a tackle from behind, it certainly deserved a red card - intentional or not.
After having prematurely excluded Frings and having had to cope with the injury of Rolfes, Germany now loses its last experienced defensive midfielder. That will certainly weaken Schweinsteiger who will now be left alone in front of a still untested defensive four, condemned to win balls, which will greatly restrict his offensive potential...
Of course, injuries to players is part of the game, but this one robs the tournament of yet another great footballer. Let's hope this doesn't continue. What would South Africa's Cup be without the likes of Torres, Fabregas, Essien, Appiah, possibly Xavi and Iniesta, and, G.. forbid, Rio Ferdinand or Wayne Rooney...
I know, football is a team-sport, and the "Big 8" have enough players to choose from, but great players in their prime bring icing to the cake...
I feel terribly sorry for Michael Ballack, who has now been deprived of his chance to play a great last tournament for his country. Like him or not, the spectacle will be all the poorer for it.
What
Kevin Prince will get a nice pay check from Ghana for this fully intentional attack on Ballack, just look at his smile when he took him out...
No Dru, KPB hasn't got balls. He cried like a baby when he missed the chance to possibly win the match. And I predict that he wont score in South Africa because they will be carrying him off in the first twenty minutes
John G you are a sick little @#$%. No doubt you get off on seeing someone's career being threatened by a grossly disproportionate response to an accidental face slap. Anyway the real loser was Boeteng who grotesquely scuffed his penalty and then blubbered like the loser he is. Plus no doubt the German boys are already queuing up for revenge in South Africa. .
maybe his german future has gone but sure he has played his last game for chelsea
haha!
What goes around come around. Slapping Kevin Prince Boateng because he decided to play for Ghana is not good enough. If the ref will not whistle for a slap, then guys leave KPB alone. Nice to have guys with balls in the Black Stars. Ghana loves you no matter what. KPB. you will be amazed at how many African's will be chanting your name. Good you had balls. I expect you to score against Germany in South Africa. Rub pepper in their injury. Like in the movie 300, We shout "No Mercy".
maybe his german future has gone but sure he has played his last game for chelsea
Aurelius: Please dont call the British, where are u from, some far flung corner of Africa or one of the emerging europeon countries, my goodness the Brits are No 1 of that there is no doubt.
Love to read comments from idiots like you, call the British then you rape the $$$$ from the country on a monthly basis, if u live in the UK go home, if you live in some rat invested hole in Africa or Italy or wherever, stay where you are.
Have a nice day.
ballack is passed it, but get well soon tho.
If you really pay attention to the tackle by boateng it was too late and intentional and that's why he missed that crucial penalty. i do not feel sorry for his stupid sobs after the loss to chelsea. he needs to get a grip and apologise to ballack
Ballack pushed Boateng in the face 2 minuts earlier. He is always doing spiteful, cowardly stuff likke that. Always moaning, always diving, always faking injury. He thought he could slap Boateng and get a reaction and Boateng would get sent off. Well Boateng just waited a few minutes and did him properly. Serves Ballack right and maybe gives him something to think about in June when he might have been playing football. No tears for him here.
Boateng is actually playing for Ghana, therefore it is more than understandable that tension is high as Germany faces Ghana in the group matches. Saw the foul and would not consider it as done intentional, however, he came quite late and has now to live with the bad press, certainly from Germany.
Kevin prince boateng is a ghanaian not German, And he is due to play for ghana in southafrica, But however he is always a sturborn boy and thought he's best. Anyway i hope Ballack get well soon and back on his feet again to play footie
Why would a fellow German do this to the German captain?I do not rate Boateng or Ballack but Boateng would not deliberately hurt one of his own.
TORRES PLEASE STAY AT LIVERPOOL.WE LOVE YOU XXXXX
371 you are a f.....ing idiot. Just shut your mouth and get on with your life and stop posting sick comments on here.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account