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[Blwe_torch]

Ballack declines German swansong


Ex-Germany captain Michael Ballack will not be making a farewell appearance for his country after dismissing Joachim Low's offer of a swansong as "a farce".
 
Low has opted to move on from the 34-year-old playmaker but raised the possibility of giving him a send off in next month's friendly against Brazil.
The for Chelsea and Bayern Munich man, now with Bayer Leverkusen, was not impressed by that idea though.
He said: "The style and content of [Low's] statement are unfortunately exactly the way he has treated me since my serious injury last summer.
"To call a friendly match that was arranged long ago a farewell match is a farce in my opinion. I know I owe my fans this match but I cannot accept the offer."
DFB general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach defended Germany's actions towards their 98-cap international, telling Kicker: "I have absolutely no understanding, let alone him saying it's a 'hypocrisy' and a 'farce'. In my view, all the conversations we have had with him have been fair and just.
"Michael should have contacted us on how to proceed. However, this did not happen so we decided to give a press release out because it was overdue really."
http://www.espnstar.com/football/euro-championships/news/detail/item633023/Ballack-declines-German-swansong/