Germany will not give Ballack official farewell match

Michael Ballack helped Germany to the 2002 World Cup final.

Sandra Behne/Getty Images

BERLIN (AP) -- The German football federation will not give former Germany captain Michael Ballack an official farewell game.

The DFB used to organize farewell games for players with 75 or more appearances but the practice was discontinued in 1995. Ballack retired this month after 98 games for Germany, although none since March 2010, and has since said he would like to have such a match.

DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach says he sees no reason to make an exception for Ballack - although Lothar Matthaeus and Oliver Kahn got their games.

Ballack missed the 2010 World Cup because of injury and was months later dropped from the national team by coach Joachim Loew. Ballack rejected offers to play two friendlies to reach 100 caps.

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