By Peter-Joseph Hegarty

May 17 (Bloomberg) -- Germany captain Michael Ballack will miss next month’s soccer World Cup in South Africa after examination of his injured ankle found that he’ll need eight weeks to recover.

The 33-year-old Chelsea midfielder’s ligaments were ruptured in a tackle by Portsmouth’s Kevin-Prince Boateng two days ago in the London club’s 1-0 victory in the F.A. Cup final. His foot will be in a cast for two weeks, then in a special shoe, the German Soccer Federation said today on its website.

“It’s very disappointing, but I have to accept it,” Ballack told German television. “It’s football and you have to live with it. I am angry, clearly.” Germany, a three-time World Cup champion, plays Australia, Serbia and Ghana in the group stage of this year’s finals, which start June 11. Boateng is in Ghana’s squad.

“I have seen it on TV and to say it was not on purpose means you have to be a friend of Boateng,” Ballack said after the final. “Boateng was lucky to get away with a yellow, but it is football and if the referee controls the game and decides it is no red card you have to accept it.”

Ballack can expect a complete recovery, the German federation said, and he’s likely to need at least eight weeks before a possible return to practice sessions.

He’s made 98 appearances for Germany and scored 42 goals. He missed the 2002 World Cup final against Brazil after picking up a second yellow card in the semifinal, and captained the team in 2006 when it came third as host nation. ‘Very, Very Sad’

“We’re all very, very sad of course. Michael Ballack is a very important player for us with a pivotal role in the team,” national coach Joachim Loew told German TV. “We’re all shocked, no doubt about it. For him, it’s an immense disappointment right before his 100th game for the national side. As a team, we have to now gather all our resources and look ahead.”

Chelsea’s win over Portsmouth gave the club a league and F.A. Cup “double” for the first time.