Germany [Images] captain Michael Ballack [Images] and striker Miroslav Klose [Images] did not train with the rest of the German squad today but a spokesman said their absence was not due to any injury.

''Ballack is doing a full workout today but due to fitness reasons and regeneration methods without a ball,'' said Hans Ulrich Voigt, a spokesman for the German soccer association (DFB).

''With Klose, it's the exact same thing,'' Voigt added. ''It has nothing to do with injuries or anything like that. The boys are doing special individual training programmes today.'' He said Ballack and Klose were training at a separate location in Berlin.

Ballack had missed training on Sunday morning because of a minor injury to his right foot but coach Juergen Klinsmann said on Monday he had recovered and was perfectly fit.''

Ballack was forced to sit out Germany's opening 4-2 win over Costa Rica because of a calf injury. Since his return to the midfield, Germany have not conceded a goal in beating Poland 1-0, Ecuador 3-0 and Sweden 2-0.

Germany meet Argentina in the quarter-final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Friday.