Ballack all but rules himself out of Wembley friendly

Aug 11, 2007, 17:23 GMT

Munich - Germany captain Michael Ballack on Saturday all but ruled himself out of an August 22 friendly with England at Wembley, saying that the game comes too early after an ankle injury layoff.

'I will most likely not play. I need a little more time,' the Chelsea midfielder told Germany's Premiere TV network.

The statement echoed that of Germany coach Joachim Loew, who on Friday night also accepted that his captain will most likely not be fit for the game.

'He will probably not play. We would like to have him there but we would only field him if he is 100 per cent fit,' Loew said.

Germany will also be without midfielder Torsten Frings and striker Lukas Podolski, who are also injured, at Wembley.

The August 22 friendly serves as a test for both teams ahead of a busy autumn schedule, featuring the final qualifiers for each side for the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Ballack has been sidelined since early May with the injury and has required surgery twice. He has missed the end of the past Premier League season and is also not available as Chelsea open the new season Sunday against Birmingham.

Ballack, who attended the Bundesliga opener of his former cub Bayern Munich on Saturday, also reiterated that a move to Spanish champions Real Madrid is not on the agenda.

'I like it at Chelsea and don't want to leave again after just one year,' Ballack said.