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Ballack still Low's captain

01 Nov 2008 - 12:00:26

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Germany coach Joachim Low has confirmed that Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack will remain captain of the national team.

It had been thought the 32-year-old would be stripped of the captain's armband after he criticised the coach's treatment of Torsten Frings and Kevin Kuranyi.

Ballack later apologised for his comments and a meeting between the two men appears to have resulted in harmony being restored.

Low said in a statement: "I am delighted that an excellent national team player who has played a major part in our success over the last few years is still available for selection and will continue to help us in achieving the goals we have set on the way to the 2010 World Cup.

"Michael Ballack remains my captain.

"It was important that we were very open with this discussion. Even as captain, he must understand he has to abide by the rules.

"He knows he can talk to me about anything, keeping it internal. But all sporting and personnel decisions are made by the coaching team and I have made this unmistakably clear to Michael."