Ballack to remain Germany captain

Berlin:

Michael Ballack will remain captain of the German national team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, coach Joachim Loew said on Friday.

Loew told the German news agency, DPA, that he would keep the 32-year-old Ballack in the post despite a public feud between the player and coach last year.

"Michael Ballack is, with his experience as captain, very high up in the hierarchy of the team, that's clear," Loew was quoted as telling DPA.

Ballack criticized some of Loew's personnel decisions in a newspaper interview last October. The Chelsea midfielder then had to fly to Germany from London to explain his comments and apologize to Loew.

In the DPA interview Friday, Loew declined to discuss his future with the Germany team and whether he would remain as coach after the World Cup.

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