BERLIN, July 21: Germany international striker Mike Hanke, sent off during the third-place play-off in the Confederations Cup last month, has been suspended for the first two matches of the 2006 World Cup finals, the German team said on Thursday. Germany assistant coach Joachim Low told Kicker magazine that the German football federation (DFB) would make a formal complaint to world football’s governing body FIFA.

FIFA have also dismissed the idea of the 21-year-old VfL Wolfsburg striker serving his suspension for the under-21 side.

Germany have qualified as hosts for the finals on home soil and will play the opening match on June 9 in Munich against a yet-to-be-named opponent.—Reuters