Ballack meets with Germany coach Loew over dispute.
Ballack meets with Germany coach Loew over dispute. Germany captain Michael Ballack met with coach Joachim Loew on Thursday in an attempt to settle a dispute stemming from Ballack’s criticism of the coach’s selection criteria.
The German football federation said the two met in Frankfurt but would not disclose any details until Friday. Ballack said last week he planned to apologize to Loew for publicly criticizing the coach for barely playing veteran midfielder Torsten Frings in the last two World Cup qualifiers.
Ballack played in both those games but is out of action with Chelsea after having surgery to remove thickened nerves from both feet.
Frings has made 78 appearances for Germany but played only seven minutes in the 2-1 win over Russia on Oct. 11 in Group 4 and didn’t come off the bench in the 1-0 win over Wales four days later. Frings later said he was considering retirement.
The 32-year-old Ballack and Frings used to play together in Germany’s under-19 team and are good friends. However, Loew is looking at younger players ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Frings will be 32 next month.
