Low names Ballack and Metzelder in German squad

MICHAEL BALLACK has been included in Germany’s 20-man squad for their first two Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland and San Marino.

Ballack is yet to make his Premiership debut for Chelsea because of a hip injury which has kept him sidelined for the last 10 days.

Centre-back Christoph Metzelder has also been selected, despite his knee problems, with coach Joachim Low hoping both players will be fit in time.

“Those two players are very important for us,” said Low. “We expect Michael Ballack to return to practice now. I have spoken to Christoph Metzelder and he will also be back in training early next week.”

Malik Fathi and Manuel Friedrich, who were both given debuts in the convincing 3-0 victory over Sweden last week, have also been included in the squad.

Low is optimistic his team will be match-fit despite a lack of respite following the World Cup.

“We knew it would be tough for the players (to win a first team place in their respective teams) after eight hard weeks during the tournament and the short break,” he added. “But our team is united and we are full of confidence.”

Low´s troops take on Ireland on September 2 before facing San Marino four days later.

Meanwhile, Hans-Dieter Flick has been appointed assistant to Low. The 41-year-old takes up the role which had remained vacant since Low took over from Jurgen Klinsmann as first team coach after the World Cup.

Flick, formerly in charge of German third division side TSG Hoffenheim and an assistant to Giovanni Trapattoni and Lothar Matthaus at Salzburg, was introduced yesterday.

“Hans-Dieter Flick is an excellent addition to our coaching team and I am looking forward to working with him,” explained Low.

France coach Raymond Domenech has revealed he did not consult Claude Makelele before including him in the 20-man squad to face Georgia and Italy in their first two Euro 2008 qualifiers next month. The Chelsea player has been considering his international future following Les Bleus’ World Cup campaign this summer, but has not yet officially declared whether or not he would keep on playing with France, unlike defender Lilian Thuram who made his decision to continue official on Wednesday.

Domenech, who had already convinced both of them and the now-retired Zinedine Zidane to come back to international action ahead of the World Cup in Germany, travelled to London at the start of the week to meet up with Makelele and Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho to explain how important the player was for the team.

He then included the player in his squad but admitted: “I did not ask him (Makelele) his opinion, for me he is excellent and he must play with.

There was no surprise that goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, who has not yet found a club, has been omitted from the squad while Gregory Coupet gets the number one shirt. France will travel to Georgia on September 2 before welcoming world champions Italy for a rematch of the World Cup final on September 6 at the Stade de France.

GERMANY (squad): T. Hildebrand (Stuttgart), J. Lehmann (Arsenal); M. Fathi, A. Friedrich (both Hertha Berlin), M. Friedrich (Mainz), M. Jansen (Borussia Monchengladbach), P. Lahm (Bayern Munich), C. Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund); M. Ballack (Chelsea), T. Borowski, T. Frings (both Werder Bremen), T. Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), D. Odonkor (Borussia Dortmund), B. Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), B. Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich); G. Asamoah (Schalke), M. Hanke (Wolfsburg), M. Klose (Werder Bremen), O. Neuville (Borussia Monchengladbach), L. Podolski (Bayern Munich).

FRANCE (squad): G. Coupet (Lyon), M. Landreau (PSG); E. Abidal (Lyon), J. Boumsong (Juventus), F. Clerc (Lyon), W. Gallas (Chelsea), G. Givet (Monaco), W. Sagnol (Bayern Munich), L. Thuram (Barcelona); A. Diarra (Lyon), C. Makelele (Chelsea), F. Malouda (Lyon), R. Mavuba (Bordeaux), P. Vieira (Inter); S. Govou (Lyon), T. Henry (Arsenal), F. Ribery (Marseille), L. Saha (Man Utd), D. Trezeguet (Juventus), S. Wiltord (Lyon).