MUNICH, (Reuters) – Germany’s World Cup hopes suffered a severe blow yesterday when captain Michael Ballack was ruled out of the finals in South Africa with an ankle injury.
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 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 yesterday 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.
