Torsten Frings will not be in Germany's squad for this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

The 33-year-old Werder Bremen midfielder was given the news by national team coach Joachim Low and assistant Hansi Flick today.

Frings won the last of his 79 caps in a 1-0 defeat to Norway in February last year.

Low said on the German Football Association's official website, www.dfb.de: "These upcoming weeks should be filled with important decisions. We'll deal in a very upfront way with our players.

"They will know who's a part of our plans and who is not. We owed this personal discussion to Torsten today, as he has made such a vital contribution to our team for years."

Frings, who returned to Bremen from Bayern Munich in 2005, said: "This comes as no surprise, there had been indications for a while.

"I accept this decision, even though, obviously, I'm of a different opinion."

Low revealed he would be looking to younger players to help Germany's bid for a fourth World Cup triumph.

"We can understand his disappointment with our opinion. But we have not taken the decision lightly," he said.

"We have in our extended squad many young players who fulfil our requirements and who have very good prospects for the 2010 World Cup.

"We want now to introduce younger players to the level of the international stage, because we are convinced by them and have a big responsibility for their further sporting development."

Bayer Leverkusen's Simon Rolfes, 27, is tipped to fill the holding midfield role which was for so long Frings'.

Low, meanwhile, believes Michael Ballack can play on beyond the World Cup and plans to discuss the Chelsea midfielder's international future at the end of this summer's tournament.

Ballack, who turns 34 in September, has not indicated he is considering relinquishing the Germany captaincy or ending his international career this summer, and Low concurs he can carry on up to Euro 2012.

"Michael Ballack can certainly play another few years at the highest level, but at the end of the day, he has got to be prepared to cope with the strains," Low told Sport Bild magazine.

"We will hold proper talks after the World Cup to see how things look with him.

"First of all we have got to see how the World Cup goes."

Ballack has represented Germany at the past two World Cups and two European Championships and, barring injury, will win his 100th cap for his country sometime this year.