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Ballack to start, Fabregas in for Villa
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June 30, 2008 00:00 IST

Germany [Images] captain Michael Ballack [Images] was passed fit to play in Sunday's Euro 2008 [Images] final against Spain after recovering sufficiently from a calf muscle injury.

The 31-year-old midfielder was unable to train on Friday or Saturday because of an inflamed right calf but was named in a Germany team featuring one change from the semi-finals, Torsten Frings coming in for Simon Rolfes as expected.

Spain coach Luis Aragones drafted Cesc Fabregas into the starting lineup in place of striker David Villa [Images] who misses the match because of a thigh injury sustained in the 3-0 win over Russia [Images] in the semi-final.

Fernando Torres will play as a lone striker in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Fabregas joining Xavi, Andres Iniesta and David Silva in midfield and Marcos Senna occupying the holding role in front of the back four.

Germany: 1-Jens Lehmann; 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 21-Christoph Metzelder, 16-Philipp Lahm; 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 8-Torsten Frings, 13-Michael Ballack, 15-Thomas Hitzlsperger, 20-Lukas Podolski; 11-Miroslav Klose [Images]

Spain: 1-Iker Casillas; 15-Sergio Ramos, 5-Carles Puyol, 4-Carlos Marchena, 11-Joan Capdevila; 19-Marcos Senna; 6-Andres Iniesta, 8-Xavi, 10-Cesc Fabregas, 21-David Silva; 9-Fernando Torres.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy [Images])


Complete Coverage: Euro 2008

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