Germany coach Loew set to drop Ballack – report

Germany midfielder Michael Ballack is set to be dropped by national coach Joachim Loew for next month’s Euro 2012 qualifiers, according to reports in the German media yesterday.

The 33-year-old is still working his way back to fitness after suffering an ankle injury in May which ruled him out of the World Cup, but German magazine Kicker said Loew believes he is still short of match fitness.

Loew will name his squad today for the qualifiers against Belgium and Azerbaijan and if Ballack is not selected, Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm is likely to retain the captaincy having led Germany to third place at the World Cup.

Loew was in Dortmund last Sunday to see Ballack make his first appearance back in the Bundesliga after four years in the Premier League with Chelsea as his side Leverkusen beat Dortmund 2-0.

The national coach has always said he will only select players in peak condition and with Germany facing Belgium in Brussels today week and Azerbaijan in Cologne on September 7, Ballack is out of time, claims Kicker.

After his injury, Ballack only returned to training at the start of August and has played only a Bundesliga and an Europa League match.