Germany's Ballack doubtful for Paraguay

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SEOGWIPO, South Korea (AP) -- German midfielder Michael Ballack has a strained left calf and is uncertain for Saturday's second-round match against Paraguay, coach Rudi Voeller said Friday.

Ballack's absence would be a major blow to Voeller's team, which is lacking creative midfielders.

Ballack missed Germany's practice Thursday after declaring himself fit to reporters only a few hours earlier. Team officials also insisted the team would be at full strength.

"It was a precautionary move," Voeller said of Ballack's absence."I don't know if he can practice before the match and we'll have to see tomorrow" whether he can play.

Voeller attributed the injury to the stress of the previous match -- Germany's 2-0 win over Cameroon in the final Group E game on Tuesday in Shizuoka, Japan.

"It's the aftereffect of a tough match. Sometimes you only feel it after a few days," Voeller said.

Ballack, 25, has scored one goal so far in the tournament. But he has been the chief supplier to striker Miroslav Klose, setting up four of his tournament-high five goals.

The midfielder had been plagued by a right-foot bruise for several weeks and did not take part in full practice sessions after the German team arrived.

Ballack said Thursday the foot injury was healed.

After a breakthrough season with Bayer Leverkusen and 17 Bundesliga goals, Ballack is moving to Bayern Munich after the World Cup.

Germany's goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn, who also plays for Bayern, said he expected Ballack would be in the starting lineup on Saturday.

"I can't imagine that he won't play, you don't feel pain when you are at the World Cup," Kahn said.

Voeller already has to replace three starters -- defender Carsten Ramelow and midfielders Christian Ziege and Dietmar Hamann, all of whom are suspended.

Another midfielder, Joerg Boehme, has been sent home with a thigh muscle tear.

Voeller, who watched Paraguay advance with a 3-1 win over Slovenia, said the South Americans would be a tough opponent.

"They were down one man and trailing a goal and they turned the match around in impressive style," Voeller said. "They fought very well."

"Tomorrow is our first final," Voeller said of the first knock-out stage in the tournament.

Germany, a three-time champion, is seeking to at least match its previous two World Cup performances, when it made the quarterfinals.