Ballack doubtful for Germans

Michael Ballack has emerged as an injury doubt for Germany's World Cup second-round match with Paraguay on Saturday.

The midfield star missed training on Thursday after suffering a delayed reaction in his calf following Germany's win over Cameroon on Tuesday.

Ballack faces a final fitness test on Saturday morning before the game in the Jeju World Cup Stadium, but coach Rudi Voller is optimistic he will be able to play.

"I talked to him this morning and he has some calf problems," said Voller.

"He can't do the sprinting that he wants to and we hope one or two days' rest will do the trick.

"Our medical and physio staff are working flat out to get him okay and he will have a final fitness test prior to the match."

Germany can ill afford to lose Ballack because they are already without Dietmar Hamann, Christian Ziege and Carsten Ramelow because of suspension.

Oliver Kahn, who will celebrate his 33rd birthday on the day of the second-round clash, admits it would be a big blow to the Germans if the 25-year-old playmaker could not play.

"It would almost be fatal because he's enormously important, especially as a creative player," he said.

"I can't really imagine him not playing because during World Cup games pain doesn't come into it, does it?"

The match has added spice for Kahn because he will be up against his Bayern team-mate Roque Santa Cruz.

Cruz has already stirred things up by saying he "will kill Germany" and Kahn joked that the striker would not be allowed back into the Bayern dressing room if he does.

"I don't think he will make that mistake by scoring against us because if he does, we will not let him back into the dressing room at Bayern," he joked.

"Roque is of the biggest talents at this World Cup. He has great pace, he's good in the air and is technically strong. These are all qualities he has shown at Bayern."