Ballack may miss European Championship final

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-29  |     ONLINE EDITION

GERMANY captain Michael Ballack missed his team's last training yesterday because of a calf injury, putting him in doubt for today's European Championship final against Spain.

The German football federation said Ballack hurt his right calf Friday and did not train that day either, adding that he was receiving treatment at the team hotel.

"We have to see how it develops overnight," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "They are working around the clock on him."

Loew said he hadn't written Ballack off yet.

"When I saw him this afternoon he was very optimistic despite everything. He was not too down because the doctors say there is still a chance he could play," Loew said. "But of course, it's a disappointment for any player."

Ballack, who has been a key factor in Germany reaching the final, missed out on the 2002 World Cup final because of suspension. The 31-year-old Chelsea midfielder also missed the opening game of the 2006 World Cup because of a similar injury on the same calf.

"It was unthinkable that he would have been able to train today," Loew said.

Ballack, who can both orchestrate and finish off his team's attacks, has scored two goals in five matches at Euro 2008. He hit a fierce free kick against Austria in a first-round match and headed what turned out to be the winning goal in the 3-2 quarterfinal win over Portugal.

Germany flew to the Austrian capital earlier yesterday from its base in southern Switzerland. The team's training session there on Friday was not open to the media and the German federation did not release any information on Ballack's injury until he did not show up for the one practice session before the final match. Saturday's session was open to the media for the first 15 minutes.

"We don't know how he got injured," Loew said. "Sometimes after a game you don't feel it for a day or two. It was inflamed yesterday but no one knows how he got it."