Low recently told Werder Bremen midfielder Frings that he no longer had a future in the national team, just as he did with Kuranyi in 2008.

While Low has backed down a little in the case of Kuranyi by admitting he will reconsider his stance towards the in-form Schalke striker, there seems to be no way back for Frings, a veteran of four major tournaments for Germany, despite his spectacular form for Bremen in the Bundesliga lately.

"The national team coach has really got to take a Torsten Frings in this top form to the World Cup," said former Germany midfielder Effenberg in the Bild newspaper.

"It is the same as with Kevin Kuranyi - Jogi Low is making life difficult for himself."

Schalke manager Felix Magath also believes Low made a mistake in banning Kuranyi from the national team after the player walked away from the squad at half-time in their World Cup qualifier against Russia in October 2008.

"Only Joachim Low can decide if he would prefer to take somebody like Kuranyi or (Lukas) Podolski to the World Cup," he said to ZDF television.

"But he made up his mind too soon that he didn't want Kevin at all costs. Therefore, it is difficult for him now to say 'Come on, Kevin'."

And Effenberg also claimed Michael Ballack's position as national team captain should be reconsidered.

Low and his assistant Hans-Dieter Flick flew out to London yesterday to see Ballack play for Chelsea in their 7-0 win over Stoke.

But Effenberg is concerned by Ballack's lack of playing time.

"He is only rarely playing full matches for Chelsea and that doesn't really make him untouchable," added Effenberg.