Skip to content

Balitsch gets German call

GERMANY coach Rudi Voller has handed Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hanno Balitsch his second international call-up when he named him for Wednesday's friendly versus Spain.

The Under-21 star will replace Borussia Dortmund midfielder Sebastian Kehl, who became the latest injury victim on Sunday when he missed the 1-0 defeat at Stuttgart due to an ankle problem.

Balitsch was previously called into the German squad as a late replacement for the November friendly against Holland but will be hoping to make his senior debut against Spain.

Bayern Munich star Michael Ballack (flu) and Hertha Berlin defender Marko Rehmer (pulled muscle) are also unavailable for the trip to Mallorca.

Spain will try to get revenge for the 4-1 trashing they received when Voller made his coaching debut for Germany in the summer of 2000.