Read in between the lines: Ballack is done with national team football

You may remember my last post about Michael Ballack when I predicted that the legendary midfielder would likely never suit up again in a meaningful game for the German National Team.

If you can't remember, here's the post again: http://redwhiteandbluearmy.blogspot.com/2010/08/ballack-has-to-be-fuming-right.html

Anyway it seems I may have a little Nostradamus in me as Jogy Low reiterated that sentiment a week ago after Ballack suffered his latest injury at Bayer Leverkusen -- a micro fracture of his left shin.

Here's his quote: ''Generally speaking, and this does not only apply to Michael Ballack, everybody has got to realise when their time at the top is over,'' said Low to the Badische Zeitung newspaper. ''After this latest injury setback, we are going to have to see whether Michael Ballack makes it to Euro 2012, when he will be 35.''

As I stated before Ballack is a legend and one to be commended for everything he poured into this team for 10-plus years, but his time is up, the game has passed him, and there are simply better-younger players at his position in the German National Team pool like Schweinsteiger, like Ozil, like Khedira and more are coming up through the ranks each year.

So here's where I say thank you Michael. You provided great thrills even when critics said Germany was no longer a world power, you showed they will always have to be a team to contend with.