Germany coach Joachim Low has hinted that Michael Ballack’s international career may have come to an end following his latest injury setback.
Low has raised doubts over the midfielder’s future after he picked up a micro-fracture of his left shin – ruling him out for the next six weeks
Ballack has not appeared for the national side since March, when he picked up his 98th cap in the friendly defeat to Argentina.
An ankle injury suffered in the FA Cup final in May forced him to miss the World Cup and he was omitted from Low’s recent squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers due to his lack of fitness.
It now seems that Low has raised doubts as to whether Ballack will ever return to the national team following his latest injury setback.
Low told the Badische Zeitung: “Generally speaking, and this does not only apply to Michael Ballack, everybody has got to realise when their time at the top is over.
“After this latest injury setback, we are going to have to see whether Michael Ballack makes it to Euro 2012, when he will be 35.”