Torsten Frings will not be replacing the injured Michael Ballack claimed national team manager Oliver Bierhoff.

After Ballack was forced out of the World Cup yesterday, speculation linked Frings with a recall, despite the player having been told by Germany coach Joachim Low in January that he was no longer under consideration.

Frings is regarded as the closest match to Ballack for a position in the midfield, but Bierhoff has reiterated that Frings' international career is over.

"Torsten has done an incredible amount for the national team, but after the analysis of this year, the coaching team reached the conclusion that he does not belong in our national team squad," Bierhoff told ARD television last night.

Low has already ruled out calling up a replacement, unless a Bayern Munich player were to pick up an injury in the Champions League final on Saturday.

However, the name of Thomas Hitzlsperger has also been mentioned as a potential replacement.

Low only really has Sami Khedira to replace Ballack in the 4-2-3-1 system he has relied upon most recently.