Coach Loew hints Ballack's Germany career is over

BERLIN (Reuters) -- Coach Joachim Loew hinted on Friday that out-of-favour captain Michael Ballack, who has not turned out for his country in over a year, is unlikely to play for Germany again.

"With Michael Ballack we have discussed things very openly and I have told him many times that I fully trust the current squad that has been nominated because we played a very successful (Euro) qualifying campaign," Loew told reporters.

Germany are top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group with five wins out of five games.

"We have agreed to have a final chat after the international matches and decide how things look for next year ahead of the Euro 2012," Loew said ahead of the Uruguay friendly.

"I will not and cannot say exactly when we will have (the discussion). But if there is something to be announced after the international matches, and indeed there will be, then we will do it," he said.

Ballack was again overlooked for Germany's Euro 2012 qualifiers in Austria on June 3, Azerbaijan on June 7 and the friendly against Uruguay on Sunday.

The 34-year-old Bayer Leverkusen player, who missed out on the World Cup last year due to an injury with Germany finishing third, has won 98 caps and scored 42 goals.