The Socceroos' hopes at the World Cup have received a significant boost with Germany's biggest star and captain Michael Ballack ruled out of the tournament with an ankle injury.

The German football federation said on Monday night the 33-year-old Chelsea midfielder had torn ligaments in his right ankle in a tackle during his club's 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth.

Ballack's ankle has been put in a cast and he won't be able to train for at least eight weeks, ruling him out of the entire tournament.

Australia will face Germany in their Group D opener in Durban on June 13 (June 14 AEST).

Ballack's injury is the latest blow to a German squad facing a host of fitness and form concerns but Socceroos defender Craig Moore denied the midfielder's injury would make Australia's job any easier.

"He's certainly one of their star players but they have a strong squad," Moore told AAP.

"The initial impact of it happening will not be easy to handle but there's still plenty of time come kick off at the World Cup when we face them.

"They'll still be just as strong as they always are, a real threat, and no doubt they'll be looking to do what they do at every tournament like this and that's progress through the group stage."

Moore said he genuinely felt for Ballack, whose third successive World Cup in 2006 was likely to be his last.

"For any player, if they're so close to going to the World Cup and missing out ... it's a real shame," Moore said.

Ballack joins first choice goalkeeper Rene Adler (rib) and midfielder Simon Rolfes (knee) in Germany's casualty ward.

They also have injury concerns over midfielder Sami Khedira (knee) and defender Marcell Jansen (ankle) while strikers Miroslav Klose and Lucas Podolski are among several players who have been criticised for their poor club form.

Prevented from undergoing a MRI scan in London due to heavy swelling, Ballack flew to Germany late on Sunday.

But a scan by national team and Bayern Munich doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt finally brought the news he did not want to hear.

Ballack, who has 98 caps and 42 goals for Germany, was injured in a tackle by Kevin-Prince Boateng, previously a Bundesliga player who is the half brother of Germany defender Jerome Boateng.

Kevin-Prince Boateng has chosen to play for Ghana, the country of his father and one of Australia and Germany's Group D opponents.

Germany's incomplete squad has been in Sicily since Friday.

Seven players from Bayern Munich will join them after Saturday's Champions League final against Inter Milan.

Serbia are the other team in Group D.

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