Ballack must fight to regain Germany place: Loew

Germany coach Joachim Loew said Saturday Michael Ballack must fight for his place in the national side when he returns from injury and he will tell the veteran straight if he has no international future.

Ballack, 34, is recovering from the fractured left knee cap he suffered playing for Leverkusen in only his third game back after picked up a right ankle injury in May which kept him out of the World Cup.

In Ballack’s absence, Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira forged a solid midfield partnership with Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger, but Loew says Ballack still have plenty of football left to offer Germany.

“If I thought that Michael could not help us, I would have told him long ago and that is not the case,” Loew told German daily the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

“When I make a decision, I shall immediately inform the player concerned.”

Loew is as good as his word: he met veteran midfielder Torsten Frings before the World Cup to tell the 79-capped Bremen star he would not be part of his squad for South Africa.

Despite having 98-caps to his name, Ballack will have to work to regain his place, says Loew.

“I want players fighting for their place,” he insisted.

“Michael has the experience and class, he will fight for his place.

“Nobody can demand that I make a final decision about this when the next tournament is in 2012.”

Ballack was left out of Germany’s first two victories against Belgium and Azerbaijan in Euro 2012 qualifiers and misses Friday’s key match against Turkey in Group A and Kazakhstan in Astana four days later.