JayBee
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Germany captain Michael Ballack has been forced out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa with an ankle injury that will sideline him for two months.
Chelsea midfielder Ballack has been told he will play no part in the June 11-July 11 finals after a scan revealed the severity of an ankle injury suffered in the FA Cup final win over Portsmouth over the weekend.
Ballack limped out of the FA Cup final win after a heavy tackle and was left sweating over his World Cup chances despite X-ray scans revealing no broken bones.
Prevented from undergoing a MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan the day after the game due to heavy swelling, a scan on Monday (EST) by finally brought the news Ballack did not want to hear: an eight-week layoff.
"His right ankle will have to be immobilised and put in a plaster cast. He will then have to wear a special shoe for a further two weeks,'' the German Football Federation said in a statement.
At 33 years old, the South Africa finals would likely have been Ballack's final World Cup campaign. He has 98 caps and 42 goals to his name,
Ballack is one of Germany's most influential players and news of his impending absence will not go unnoticed by Germany's World Cup group opponents Australia, whom they face in their opening game on June 13.
Socceroos defender Craig Moore denied the midfielder's injury would make Australia's job any easier.
"He's certainly one of their star players but they have a strong squad,'' Moore said.
"The initial impact of it happening will not be easy to handle but there's still plenty of time come kick off at the World Cup when we face them.
"They'll still be just as strong as they always are, a real threat, and no doubt they'll be looking to do what they do at every tournament like this and that's progress through the group stage.''
Moore said he genuinely felt for Ballack, whose third successive World Cup in 2006 was likely to be his last.
"For any player, if they're so close to going to the World Cup and missing out ... it's a real shame,'' Moore said.
Ballack joins first choice goalkeeper Rene Adler (rib) and midfielder Simon Rolfes (knee) in Germany's casualty ward.
They also have injury concerns over midfielder Sami Khedira (knee) and defender Marcell Jansen (ankle) while strikers Miroslav Klose and Lucas Podolski are among several players who have been criticised for their poor club form.
Chelsea midfielder Ballack has been told he will play no part in the June 11-July 11 finals after a scan revealed the severity of an ankle injury suffered in the FA Cup final win over Portsmouth over the weekend.
Ballack limped out of the FA Cup final win after a heavy tackle and was left sweating over his World Cup chances despite X-ray scans revealing no broken bones.
Prevented from undergoing a MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan the day after the game due to heavy swelling, a scan on Monday (EST) by finally brought the news Ballack did not want to hear: an eight-week layoff.
"His right ankle will have to be immobilised and put in a plaster cast. He will then have to wear a special shoe for a further two weeks,'' the German Football Federation said in a statement.
At 33 years old, the South Africa finals would likely have been Ballack's final World Cup campaign. He has 98 caps and 42 goals to his name,
Ballack is one of Germany's most influential players and news of his impending absence will not go unnoticed by Germany's World Cup group opponents Australia, whom they face in their opening game on June 13.
Socceroos defender Craig Moore denied the midfielder's injury would make Australia's job any easier.
"He's certainly one of their star players but they have a strong squad,'' Moore said.
"The initial impact of it happening will not be easy to handle but there's still plenty of time come kick off at the World Cup when we face them.
"They'll still be just as strong as they always are, a real threat, and no doubt they'll be looking to do what they do at every tournament like this and that's progress through the group stage.''
Moore said he genuinely felt for Ballack, whose third successive World Cup in 2006 was likely to be his last.
"For any player, if they're so close to going to the World Cup and missing out ... it's a real shame,'' Moore said.
Ballack joins first choice goalkeeper Rene Adler (rib) and midfielder Simon Rolfes (knee) in Germany's casualty ward.
They also have injury concerns over midfielder Sami Khedira (knee) and defender Marcell Jansen (ankle) while strikers Miroslav Klose and Lucas Podolski are among several players who have been criticised for their poor club form.
