Michael Ballack, Klose suffering minor injuries

BERLIN, June 28: Germany captain Michael Ballack and striker Miroslav Klose are suffering from minor injuries, although the coaching staff are confident both players will be fit for Friday's quarter-final against Argentina.

Assistant coach Joachim Loew said today that Ballack and Klose did not train with the rest of the team yesterday as a precaution because they were nursing slight injuries.

''Michael Ballack had a slightly swollen ankle and Miroslav Klose had a slight tendinitis in his foot,'' Loew said.

''That's why both did individual training on Tuesday. We didn't want to take any risks.

''They will both return to training on Wednesday,'' he said.

''We assume they both will be able to play on Friday. It was just a precautionary measure.'' A senior German official had originally said Ballack and Klose were working out on their own at a separate location yesterday ''due to fitness reasons and regeneration methods without a ball'' and that it had nothing to do with injury.

Ballack also missed training on Sunday morning because of a minor injury to his right foot but coach Juergen Klinsmann said on Monday he had recovered and was perfectly fit.

Ballack sat out Germany's opening 4-2 win over Costa Rica with a calf injury and since his return they have not conceded a goal in beating Poland 1-0, Ecuador 3-0 and Sweden 2-0.

REUTERS

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