Low dealt Ballack blow

Chelsea’s Michael Ballack has withdrawn from the Germany squad for next month’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against San Marino and Slovakia with an ankle injury.

Ballack, the German captain, hurt his left ankle in Chelsea’s goalless draw with Newcastle on April 22 and underwent surgery five days later in Germany.

He was initially named in the squad by coach Joachim Low, but has lost his battle to recover in time for the matches at the start of June.

Low said he would not call up another player to replace his skipper.

Ballack’s withdrawal is the latest in a long line of injury blows for Germany with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski, Tim Borowski, Oliver Neuville, Gerald Asamoah and Mike Hanke all also ruled out.

David Odonkor and Arne Friedrich were left out of the squad because they are lacking match practice after recovering from long spells on the sidelines.

Germany play San Marino on June 2 in Nuremberg and Slovakia on June 6 in Hamburg.

They top Group D on 13 points with the Czech Republic and Republic of Ireland, but have played one game less than the Czechs and two fewer than the Irish.