October 05, 2008	Sunday	Shawwal 05, 1429

BERLIN, Oct 4: Germany coach Joachim Loew recalled the experienced quartet of Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings, Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Wales.

Ballack was among the senior players to miss Germany’s first two Group Four matches — a 6-0 win away to Liechtenstein and a 3-3 draw away to Finland.

The 32-year-old captain has recovered from his foot injury and is back along with his preferred central midfield partner Frings, who missed last month’s games with a broken nose.

Centre back Mertesacker and full back Arne Friedrich also return from injury.

Missing from the squad for the games against Russia in Dortmund on Oct 11 and Wales in Moenchengladbach on Oct 15 is the Real Madrid centre back Christoph Metzelder.

“He’s very much part of our plans but we agreed that as he has not had much match practice at Real Madrid this season he would be better staying there and working on his fitness,” Loew said.

Loew also brought in bruising midfielder Jermaine Jones and young goalkeeper Rene Adler as back-up for first choice Robert Enke.—Reuters