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Ballack ready to return

11 Jun 2006 - 14:39:02

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Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann has confirmed captain Michael Ballack will start against Poland on Wednesday.

Ballack sat out the hosts' World Cup opener against Costa Rica last Friday after the German medical team ruled he was not fit to play, despite the Chelsea midfielder insisting he had recovered from a calf strain.

Germany won 4-2 in his absence, with his replacement Tim Borowski excelling in the attacking midfield role.

However, Klinsmann insisted: "Michael will play in the second game. You can take that for granted."

Meanwhile, Poland are likely to be without midfielder Kamil Kosowski for the Group A game in Dortmund after the 28-year-old suffered a hamstring strain after coming off the bench during last Friday's 2-0 defeat against Ecuador.