Thursday, June 16, 2011

Midfielder Ballack's Germany Career Over

Longtime captain Michael Ballack's Germany career is over, the German football federation said Thursday, ending months of speculation about his future.

The 34-year-old midfielder has 98 caps but has not played for Germany in more than a year and missed seven months with an ankle injury, including last year's World Cup in South Africa, where Germany finished third.

Ballack, who had 42 goals in a Germany career that began in April 1999, never won a major title with the national team. He was Germany's captain in 55 games.

There was no immediate reaction from the former Chelsea midfielder, and no quotes from the player in the federation's statement.

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