Germany's Ballack out of third place game

BERLIN, July 7 (Reuters) Germany captain Michael Ballack will miss Saturday's World Cup third place match against Portugal due to a knee injury, the Germany Football Association said today.

''The doctors strongly advise against him playing,'' the association's Web site said.

The 29-year-old midfielder could not take part in a training session in Berlin on Friday due to the injury, the association said.

Reuters PM GC1618