Michael Ballack will miss Germany's World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Finland through injury, coach Joachim Loew said on Tuesday.
"It's impossible for him to play in either game," Loew said in an interview with ZDF television, dashing any hopes of the captain recovering from the injury to his left foot in time to play in the second match.
Loew has a problem in central midfield, with Torsten Frings to miss both Group Four qualifiers, in Vaduz on Sept. 6 and Helsinki on Sept. 10, after suffering a broken nose while playing in a basketball game.
Ballack watched from the stands on Tuesday as Germany enjoyed a leisurely 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich in a testimonial match for former goalkeeper Oliver Kahn in Munich.
Kahn was beaten for the last time by a Breno own goal before Miroslav Klose tapped in the equaliser in the second half.
Kahn brought his 21-year playing career to an end in May. He went off to a lengthy standing ovation from the players and a 69,000 crowd shortly before the end of his farewell game on Tuesday.
More from rediff