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No distractions for Metzelder

26 May 2006 - 07:21:37

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Germany defender Christoph Metzelder has postponed a decision about his future until after the World Cup.

The 25-year-old Borussia Dortmund defender is a target for Werder Bremen, but does not want to be distracted by contract negotiations during the finals.

"I know about Werder's interest," said Metzelder. "But I told (Bremen coach) Thomas Schaaf and Borussia Dortmund that I will not make a decision before the tournament.

"I want to shift my full attention to the tournament. I hereby end the discussion."

Meanwhile, Germany's medical staff have moved quickly to quash fears about captain Michael Ballack's fitness for the World Cup.

The Chelsea midfielder limped out of a training game with an ankle injury on Thursday, but a spokesman for the German Football Association said: "It's a light sprain in the left foot and no one is nervous about it."

It is not yet known whether Ballack will be fit enough to play in Saturday's friendly against Luxembourg in Freiburg.