Ballack's fitness worrying
2006-06-06 15:05
Berlin - Germany are worried about the fitness of their captain Michael Ballack, just days before the hosts kick off the World Cup against Costa Rica.
The host nation's most important player has a strain in his right calf and both Ballack and the team's staff were cautiously optimistic on Tuesday that the star midfielder would be able to play against Costa Rica on Friday.
"I assume that I'll be able to play," Ballack told reporters.
Ballack missed Monday's practice, after the players had reported to their Berlin base following a weekend at home after Friday's 3-0 win over Colombia.
"I felt it after the Colombia game but then it got worse. I preferred to spend the Sunday with my family and it could only be treated yesterday," Ballack said.
"It's nagging, but we'll get it under control," Ballack said.
His words raised the question why the captain only reported the injury to team officials on Monday, leaving it untreated for two days.
"I trained this morning in the fitness room and I'll resume training this afternoon," Ballack said.
- AP