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Frankfurt - Captain Michael Ballack missed Germany's practice on Monday evening with a calf injury, adding to the distractions ahead of the World Cup qualifying game against Wales.
Ballack was hit in his right calf during Saturday's 2-1 win over Russia, the German football federation (DFB) said. He scored Germany's second goal.
The Chelsea midfielder missed the practice "as a precaution," the federation said. While his teammates practised in Duesseldorf, Ballack was treated by the team's physiotherapist at the hotel. The federation did not say if the injury might prevent Ballack from playing against Wednesday against Wales in Moenchengladbach.
Coach Joachim Loew sought earlier on Monday to downplay the departure of backup striker Kevin Kuranyi and steer attention to the game against Wales.
While Loew tried to speak about the game at a news conference in Duesseldorf, the reporters kept going back to the topic of Kuranyi's expulsion from the team after Saturday's 2-1 win over Russia.
"We have an important game ahead of us, we want six points from these two home games," Loew said. "We would have achieved nothing if we follow up the win against Russia with a defeat against Wales."
Loew expelled Kuranyi from the team on Sunday and said he would not take him back - ever.
"My decision stays," Loew said. "He called me on Sunday night and he apologised for his reaction, he said it was a mistake. I accepted the apology but I told him my decision was irrevocable.
Did not impress
Kuranyi was not picked for the 18-man squad for Saturday's game and watched the first half from the stands. He disappeared during halftime and had his belongings picked up overnight from the team hotel.
The Schalke striker was denied a request to visit his family after being told he would not play, Loew said.
Kuranyi was once Germany's starting striker but he was overlooked by then coach Juergen Klinsmann and did not make the cut for the 2006 World Cup at home. He was recalled for the European Championship in June but did not impress and his form has been in decline.
"I could not take it any more," Kuranyi said at a simultaneous news conference at his club.
While Russia has been rated Germany's toughest opponent in Group 4, Loew expects perhaps an even tougher game against Wales on Wednesday. Wales has only won twice against Germany (twice), but it has six draws against seven defeats.
"Wales plays a different game than Russia. They'll go for long balls and our game plan will have to reflect this," Loew said. "But we will mostly try to impose our own game, the things we try out in practice."
Germany had an impressive first half against Russia - Loew called it "fantastic" - but its game fell after the break and Russia came close to clinching a draw.
"We made too many mistakes in the second half and we have to work on getting rid of them," Loew said.
One or two changes in the lineup were "very possible," Loew said.
Great boost
"Wales makes the life of its opponents difficult. I expect them to play a 4-5-1 formation, defensive. They will be typically British, robust, full of energy, they will try to prevent our chances," he said.
Wales held Germany to a 0-0 draw in November in Frankfurt, in the final game of qualifying for the European Championship. Germany, later runner-up to Spain, had already qualified.
"We have nothing to fear," said David Edwards, who made his Wales debut in Frankfurt. "And if we could come up with a similar result this time around, it will give us a great boost."
Germany now has seven points from three games, while Wales is second at six. Wales is coming off a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein.
"We had a job to do, and we had to get those three points. But unfortunately we did not play at the tempo we wanted, but the win was the main thing and we take that into our next game and try to get some points in Germany," said Edwards, who scored his first goal for Wales against Liechtenstein.
"We might shock them like we did in Frankfurt last year and I am sure they will not take us lightly," he said.
