<p>“I don’t want to comment on the issue,” Ballack told Wednesday’s edition of Luxembourg paper l’essentiel. Ballack, 33, is undergoing further rehabilitation on his ankle injury in Luxembourg after ending a visit of the German World Cup team in South Africa.<br /><br />The 98-time capped Ballack is the Germany captain but has been sidelined because of the injury. The Bayern Munich right-back took over the captaincy for the tournament in South Africa and said in several newspaper interviews this week that he would not like to give up the role.<br /><br />The statements, which coincided with Ballack’s unexpected departure from the team on Monday, sparked a debate on whether Ballack should be captain again, and whether he should return to the team at all.<br /><br />Germany have played outstanding football without Ballack, including a stunning 4-0 victory over Argentina and a 4-1 drubbing of England at the World Cup. Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaeus is among those who has suggested Ballack should retire from the national team.<br /><br />Neither coach Joachim Loew nor team manager Oliver Bierhoff have condemned Lahm’s statements, although Bierhoff named them “untimely” ahead of the semifinal with Spain set for later Wednesday.</p>
<p>“I don’t want to comment on the issue,” Ballack told Wednesday’s edition of Luxembourg paper l’essentiel. Ballack, 33, is undergoing further rehabilitation on his ankle injury in Luxembourg after ending a visit of the German World Cup team in South Africa.<br /><br />The 98-time capped Ballack is the Germany captain but has been sidelined because of the injury. The Bayern Munich right-back took over the captaincy for the tournament in South Africa and said in several newspaper interviews this week that he would not like to give up the role.<br /><br />The statements, which coincided with Ballack’s unexpected departure from the team on Monday, sparked a debate on whether Ballack should be captain again, and whether he should return to the team at all.<br /><br />Germany have played outstanding football without Ballack, including a stunning 4-0 victory over Argentina and a 4-1 drubbing of England at the World Cup. Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaeus is among those who has suggested Ballack should retire from the national team.<br /><br />Neither coach Joachim Loew nor team manager Oliver Bierhoff have condemned Lahm’s statements, although Bierhoff named them “untimely” ahead of the semifinal with Spain set for later Wednesday.</p>