Ballack out of Germany's Euro 2012 squad
BERLIN, Germany — Germany captain Michael Ballack has been dropped
by national coach Joachim Loew for next month's Euro 2012 qualifiers.
The 33-year-old midifelder's name was conspicuous by its absence from
Loew's squad released Friday for the games against Belgium in Brussels
on September 3 and Azerbaijan in Cologne four days later.
Ballack is still working his way back to fitness after suffering an ankle
injury in May which ruled him out of last month's World Cup.
Loew said in a statement: "Michael is going the right way after his injury
and everyone is satisfied with the healing process. The important thing
is that he rediscovers his best form at Leverkusen."
According to the German Football Association Loew told Ballack of his
decision by telephone.
With Ballack absent defender Philipp Lahm is likely to retain the captaincy
having led Germany to third at the World Cup.
Loew was in Dortmund last Sunday to see Ballack make his first appearance
back in the Bundesliga after four years in the Premier League with Chelsea
as his side Bayer Leverkusen beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
After his injury, Ballack only returned to training at the start of August
and has played only a Bundesliga and Europa League match.
As expected Loew has called up 17 members of his World Cup squad.
Out of contention are the injured Arne Friedrich, Jerome Boateng, Piotr
Trochowski and Dennis Aogo, but back after missing the World Cup are
goalkeeper Rene Adler and defender Heiko Westermann.
Looking ahead to the two Euro 2012 qualifiers Loew said: "We want to win
our first two games with the same football that we played at the World Cup."
Germany squad
Goalkeepers
Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke 04),
Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)
Defenders
Holger Badstuber (FC Bayern München), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV),
Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen),
Sascha Riether (VfL Wolfsburg), Heiko Westermann (Hamburger SV)
Midfielders
Cacau (VfB Stuttgart), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid),
Toni Kroos (FC Bayern München), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen),
Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Real Madrid),
Lukas Podolski (1. FC Köln), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München),
Christian Träsch (VfB Stuttgart)
Forwards
Mario Gomez (FC Bayern München), Stefan Kießling (Bayer 04 Leverkusen),
Miroslav Klose (FC Bayern München)
source
also team list is from here because the above source screwed up the positions.
no surprises with the team, just a bit re-arranged. excited to see Träsch back. (:
on the Micha issue, it's waaay too similar to what Jogi did to Frings a few years ago. if this continues past these games and Jogi keeps coming up with bullshit reasons to keep Micha out, I will cry and never forgive him. I love that man so much, and he has been my captain for 6 years. GTFO LÖW.
also, lj-user bismarksotto makes a good point (though when doesn't she?):
"If [Löw] had any interest in further having Ballack with the squad (since it's doubtful Ballack's ego will allow him to remain with the team as a "demoted" regular Mannschafter), he'd have by now said something along the lines of "Ballack was our captain and he will continue to be our captain as long as he plays well" or something of that sort."
fml I will shoot someone if we end up with Lahm as our captain. Basti or Micha, please.
I love him, I really, really, do, but I love the other two more.
Those are my thoughts. Please, share yours!! Is Jogi trying to get rid of Micha? Should Micha get the armband back? Are Micha's Mannschaft days numbered?
And for any new fans, I'm curious: what's your opinion on Micha?
BERLIN, Germany — Germany captain Michael Ballack has been dropped
by national coach Joachim Loew for next month's Euro 2012 qualifiers.
The 33-year-old midifelder's name was conspicuous by its absence from
Loew's squad released Friday for the games against Belgium in Brussels
on September 3 and Azerbaijan in Cologne four days later.
Ballack is still working his way back to fitness after suffering an ankle
injury in May which ruled him out of last month's World Cup.
Loew said in a statement: "Michael is going the right way after his injury
and everyone is satisfied with the healing process. The important thing
is that he rediscovers his best form at Leverkusen."
According to the German Football Association Loew told Ballack of his
decision by telephone.
With Ballack absent defender Philipp Lahm is likely to retain the captaincy
having led Germany to third at the World Cup.
Loew was in Dortmund last Sunday to see Ballack make his first appearance
back in the Bundesliga after four years in the Premier League with Chelsea
as his side Bayer Leverkusen beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
After his injury, Ballack only returned to training at the start of August
and has played only a Bundesliga and Europa League match.
As expected Loew has called up 17 members of his World Cup squad.
Out of contention are the injured Arne Friedrich, Jerome Boateng, Piotr
Trochowski and Dennis Aogo, but back after missing the World Cup are
goalkeeper Rene Adler and defender Heiko Westermann.
Looking ahead to the two Euro 2012 qualifiers Loew said: "We want to win
our first two games with the same football that we played at the World Cup."
Germany squad
Goalkeepers
Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke 04),
Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)
Defenders
Holger Badstuber (FC Bayern München), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV),
Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen),
Sascha Riether (VfL Wolfsburg), Heiko Westermann (Hamburger SV)
Midfielders
Cacau (VfB Stuttgart), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid),
Toni Kroos (FC Bayern München), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen),
Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Real Madrid),
Lukas Podolski (1. FC Köln), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München),
Christian Träsch (VfB Stuttgart)
Forwards
Mario Gomez (FC Bayern München), Stefan Kießling (Bayer 04 Leverkusen),
Miroslav Klose (FC Bayern München)
source
also team list is from here because the above source screwed up the positions.
no surprises with the team, just a bit re-arranged. excited to see Träsch back. (:
on the Micha issue, it's waaay too similar to what Jogi did to Frings a few years ago. if this continues past these games and Jogi keeps coming up with bullshit reasons to keep Micha out, I will cry and never forgive him. I love that man so much, and he has been my captain for 6 years. GTFO LÖW.
also, lj-user bismarksotto makes a good point (though when doesn't she?):
"If [Löw] had any interest in further having Ballack with the squad (since it's doubtful Ballack's ego will allow him to remain with the team as a "demoted" regular Mannschafter), he'd have by now said something along the lines of "Ballack was our captain and he will continue to be our captain as long as he plays well" or something of that sort."
fml I will shoot someone if we end up with Lahm as our captain. Basti or Micha, please.
I love him, I really, really, do, but I love the other two more.
Those are my thoughts. Please, share yours!! Is Jogi trying to get rid of Micha? Should Micha get the armband back? Are Micha's Mannschaft days numbered?
And for any new fans, I'm curious: what's your opinion on Micha?
