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FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -Michael Ballack was selected in Germany's squad for 2008 European Championship qualifiers next month despite not having played for a month due to an ankle injury.
He last played on April 22 in Chelsea's 0-0 draw at Newcastle and had surgery five days later on his left ankle in Germany.
"Michael would like to play, at least in the second game, but we won't be taking any risks," coach Joachim Loew said Tuesday when announcing the 21-man squad.
Germany plays San Marino in Nuremberg on June 2 and Slovakia in Hamburg four days later.
Loew is already missing Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski, Tim Borowski, Oliver Neuville, Gerald Asamoah and Mike Hanke because of injuries.
David Odonkor and Arne Friedrich were dropped for lack of match practice after long-term injuries.
Mario Gomez from Bundesliga champion Stuttgart is back after a knee injury, while striker Patrick Helmes of second-division Cologne was also picked.
The Czech Republic, Germany and Ireland all have 13 points in Group D. Ireland has played seven matches, the Czechs six and Germany five.
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The squad:
Goalkeepers: Timo Hildebrand (Stuttgart), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal).
Defender: Gonzalo Castro (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Friedrich (Mainz), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Marcell Jansen (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund).
Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Roberto Hilbert (Stuttgart), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Jan Schlaudraff (Alemannia Aachen), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV).
Forwards: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (Cologne), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke).
