Michael Ballack Injury: German Captain To Miss World Cup Due To Torn Ligaments [Video]

Less than a month before the World Cup, a giant blow has been dealt to the three-time World Cup champs, Germany.

Michael Ballack, Germany’s most experienced player and arguably their best player, has torn ligaments in his right ankle due to a hard tackle by Kevin-Prince Boateng

“We are shocked, no question about it, and we are all very, very sad,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said at the team’s training camp in Sicily. “He is a very important player for us, a world class player who played a very important role in decisive games for us.

Loew said the tackle was “brutal,” and Ballack said he believed the foul was intentional. Ballack and Boateng scuffled not long before the foul.

“I have seen it on TV and to say it was not on purpose means you have to be a friend of Boateng,” Ballack said. “Boateng was lucky to get away with a yellow, but it is football and if the referee controls the game and decides it is no red card you have to accept it.”

The 33-year-old Chelsea midfielder will most likely not be able to compete in any future World Cups.

“It’s very disappointing, but I have to accept it,” Ballack told German television. “It’s football and you have to live with it. … I am angry, clearly.”

Guardian UK