/world sport
(CNN) -- Germany will be missing captain Michael Ballack and fellow midfielder Torsten Frings for their opening two World Cup qualifying matches against Liechtenstein and Finland.
Ballack is struggling with a foot injury and will miss both games this month.
Chelsea's Ballack is still struggling with a foot injury while Frings broke his nose playing in a basketball match at a public relations event with his club Werder Bremen.
Coach Joachim Loew has recalled Andreas Hinkel of Celtic for the first time in three years as cover for both men.
Germany play in Liechtenstein on Saturday and in Finland four days later.
Ballack was thought to have a chance of playing in the tougher match in Helsinki, but speaking at Oliver Kahn's farewell match in Munich, Loew told Associated Press: "Michael will not be playing against Finland. because he must have a break of eight or nine days."
Spain, who beat Germany to win Euro 2008, are also injury-hit for their qualifying openers, with Valencia midfielder David Silva withdrawing due to a left ankle injury.
Silva will not be replaced for the matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Murcia on Saturday and against Armenia in Albacete four days later.
Spain will also be without Fernando Torres. The Liverpool striker has a torn right hamstring and has been replaced by uncapped Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic.
Spain will be playing their first competitive matches since winning the European Championship in June. Since then, coach Luis Aragones has joined Fenerbahce and been replaced by Vicente Del Bosque.
Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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