Germany recall Ballack and midfielder Frings for qualifiers

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STUTTGART: Captain Michael Ballack (pic) and veteran midfielder Torsten Frings are back in Germany coach Joachim Loew’s squad named on Friday for the World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Wales.

Chelsea midfielder Ballack and Werder Bremen’s Frings both missed Germany’s opening qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Finland last month.
Frings broke his nose playing basketball while Ballack withdrew with a foot injury, but both are back as Germany look to consolidate their place at the top of Group Four having beaten Liechtenstein 6-0 and drawn 3-3 in Helsinki.
Germany play Russia in Dortmund on Oct 11 and Wales in Moenchengladbach on Oct 15.
Five players have been brought back by Loew, including goalkeeper Rene Adler, defender Arne Friedrich as well as midfielders Ballack, Frings and Schalke 04’s Jermaine Jones. Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes has also been added, having scored seven goals in six games.
“We expect big things of Patrick Helmes in the future,” said Loew.
“He has proved what potential he has and has been impressive for his club in recent weeks.
“Likewise Jermaine is physically very strong at present and we have paid close attention to him.”
As well as Leverkusen’s Adler and Hanover’s Robert Enke, Loew has named Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese.
There is no place in the squad for Real Madrid defender Christoph Metzelder, who has struggled to make the Spanish giant’s first-team this season.
“We had a good discussion and he will play a part in our planning,” said Loew.
“But we agreed that he is to train hard and win his place back at Real.
“We have three good alternatives for the two centre-back positions in Per Mertesacker, Heiko Westermann and Serdar Tasci.