Germany's Ballack hurt in practice game

GENEVA, May 25: Germany captain Michael Ballack will be forced to rest for a few days after suffering a minor ankle sprain in a practice match today.

''From the first diagnosis it's nothing dramatic,'' Germany's assistant coach Joachim Loew told reporters after the game against Servette Geneva's Under-18 side.

''There is no danger of him missing the World Cup. Maybe he'll have to rest for two or three days.'' That assessment means Ballack is likely to miss Saturday's friendly international against Luxembourg in Freiburg.

The injury to Ballack's left foot took the gloss off Germany's 12-0 win over the Servette youngsters, who wilted following a bright enough start at the Stade de Geneve.

Lukas Podolski scored twice in the first half, with further strikes from Robert Huth, Bernd Schneider and Bastian Schweinsteiger making it 5-0 by halftime.

Gerald Asamoah, Tim Borowski, Sebastian Kehl and Mike Hanke scored after the break and Oliver Neuville rounded things off with a 10-minute hat-trick.

Germany have further international friendlies against Japan and Colombia before playing the first match of the World Cup against Costa Rica in Munich on June 9.

Reuters