Ballack: I'm fit to play in opener

Germany captain Michael Ballack has reportedly made himself available for Friday's World Cup curtain-raiser against Costa Rica, just 24 hours after national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann ruled him out of the clash.

A nagging calf injury forced the Chelsea midfielder to pull out of Wednesday's training session – his first of the week – and Klinsmann admitted he would prefer to rest his talisman for the Costa Rica game rather than risk further injury.