Germany captain Michael Ballack insists his international career is not over, despite being forced to miss the World Cup due to injury
Germany captain Michael Ballack insists his international career is not over, despite being forced to miss the World Cup due to injury.
Ballack picked up an ankle injury in the FA Cup final after being fouled by Portsmouth's Kevin-Prince Boateng and has been told he will not be able to play again for at least two months. That diagnosis ruled him out of the World Cup, but it will not bring his international career to an end at the age of 33.
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| Ballack (left) and Joachim Loew |
"I won't let my international career come to an end because of a foul like this," he said.
"I never said that I would retire after the World Cup. I want to continue playing at the highest level and I will consider things in calm over the next few weeks."
Ballack's future for Chelsea should also be resolved in the next few weeks and he is optimistic that a new deal will be reached with the Premier League club.
"Chelsea are absolutely my first option," he told Germany's Bild newspaper. "We are in contact with the club.
The coach first of all wants to discuss things internally and then he will approach the players."
