Germany Captain Michael Ballack Will Miss 2010 World Cup: A sprained ankle has seriously damaged Germany’s chances in the upcoming 2010 World Cup, as captain Michael Ballack has been ruled out with less than a month before the start of the tournament in South Africa. The 33-year-old Chelsea midfielder suffered torn ligaments in his right ankle during his club’s 1-0 victory over Portsmouth in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
"It's very disappointing, but I have to accept it," Ballack said while standing with crutches. "It's football and you have to live with it. … I am angry, clearly."
According to the German football federation, Ballack’s ankle has been put in a cast and will not be able to train for at least eight weeks, automatically disabling him from representing his country at the 2010 World Cup.
"We are shocked, no question about it, and we are all very, very sad," head coach Joachim Loew said. "He is a very important player for us, a world class player who played a very important role in decisive games for us.
"There can be no question of resignation now. We are sure we can still play a good tournament."
How do you think Ballack’s absence will affect his team’s chances? Presently, here are the sports betting odds favorites to win the 2010 World Cup: Spain [+375], Brazil [+400], England [+500], Argentina [+825], Italy [+975], Germany [+1000] and Netherlands [+1100].
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