Ballack out of World Cup

Germany’s World Cup preparations were thrown into chaos when the extent of Michale Ballack’s injury revealed that he will miss the World Cup finals. Ballack was injured playing for Chelsea in the FA Cup Final after a tackle from Ghanaian Prince Boateng in the 35th minute.

A scan showed damage to two ligaments but it is expected to be eight weeks before he can resume training and Germany’s first match is on 13 June against Australia in Durban. Ballack was seen as pivotal in Germany’s campaign, having played in two Finals before, with 98 caps under his belt.

Boateng was selected in the Ghana preliminary squad and Ghana are of course in Germany’s group. The two meet on June 23 in Johannesburg in their third Group D game.

The coincidences increase. Kevin-Prince Boateng was born in Berlin, Germany’s capital and represented German youth teams but later opted to play for Ghana, where his father came from.

It gets better. Boateng’s half-brother, Jerome Boateng, still plays for Germany, qualified through their German mother.

Reaction in Germany has been harsh, disappointed and diappointing. Former German World Cup winner and coach Rudi Voller said Chelsea midfielder Ballack was ‘irreplaceable’. Germany’s sole downmarket tabloid Das Bild called Boateng’s tackle a ‘brutal foul’ and a ‘revenge attack’.

More responsibly, German manager Joachim Löw said:

“I have spoken to Jerome Boateng. I have told him that we will stand by him, absolutely and without question. Admittedly, he is a family member, but he is not involved at all. I ask everyone not to get him caught up in this thing.”

The SV Hamburg defender is in Löw’s 30 man provisional squad for South Africa.

Kevin Boateng and Ballack weren’t meeting for the first time on the Wembley pitch. Young Boateng scored his first goal for Hertha Berlin before playing Ballack’s Bayern Munich. He had an argument with Ballack.

Ballack apparently said to him: “You’ve scored one goal, and you think you are the best!”

Boateng’s father was quoted in Das Bild as saying his son never forgot Ballack’s attitude.

Thomas Hitzlsperger, Simon Rolfes and Aaron Hunt were the three most notable midfielders omitted from Löw’s squad should he feel the need to bolster that area before he cuts the side to 23 for the final selection.

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