by Allen Hopkins, FOXSports.com

Bayern Munich midfielder Mehmet Scholl delivered another big blow to German hopes this week when he announced he was pulling out of the team after an injury-plagued season.

"Because of my state of health, I cannot help the German national team or Rudi Voeller at the World Cup. That's why I made this decision," Scholl told reporters.

Voeller met the player yesterday, attempting unsuccessfully to persuade Scholl to reverse course.

"I hoped up until the last moment Mehmet would be fit for the World Cup. He gave a detailed account of his situation during our meeting," said a disappointed Voeller.

On the surface, Scholl appears to be doing the honorable thing in declaring his lack of fitness. But with the tournament still a month away, it has been suggested that there are other issues.

Scholl denied speculation that his decision to quit Germany was prompted by a desire to concentrate more fully on his club career at Bayern Munich.

"I know many believe I have let my country down, but I have no choice. I am the one who knows best that I won't be able to help the national team. I am not saving myself for Bayern. All that matters is my health," he said.

With Sebastian Deisler also likely to miss the finals, Voeller has some serious concerns in midfield. Sure, Michael Ballack has emerged as a legitimate world-class midfielder, but given the little help around him, there's a bull's eye squarely on his back.

Scholl is not the only player turning up his nose at a World Cup opportunity. Schalke midfielder Jorg Bohme blasted Voeller this week and said he's prepared for a "football-free" summer.

Bohme, who was substituted and replaced by Lars Ricken after the first half of Germany's recent friendly with Argentina said, "I've had enough of being replaced after 45 minutes. I am pleased that I am back playing for Schalke.

"I proved against Nuremberg that going forward is what I do best, but against Argentina I had to play against two players and wasn't able to show my strengths.?

The former Armenia Bielefeld player added, "I don't think that I will go to Japan and South Korea. I think Rudi Voeller already knows who's going to the tournament and he hasn't talked to me yet. Anyway, I cannot influence his decision as there won't be any friendlies before the date (May 6) of Voeller's decision."

Voeller did his best to defuse the situation, explaining, "We all know about Bohme's strong points. We know that he is good offensively but we also know that he needs someone to back him up. In international games you must defend as well, and if you can't, you will be replaced by someone else."

"But Jorg still has a realistic chance to be selected. If he scores such beautiful goals like the one against Nuremberg I am sure I can turn a blind eye to some other things."

If Bohme, a late bloomer on the international stage, was on the bubble, he didn't do himself any favors with his public criticism of Voeller.

Bohme is a scoring threat, however, and the goals he can provide might pick up the slack for a suddenly thin strike force. With Germany already dealing with an injury to Alexander Zickler, the out-of-form Carsten Jancker, an aging Oliver Bierhoff and an inconsistent Oliver Neuville, Bohme might be too precious a commodity to leave off the team.

More and more it seems representing your country doesn't mean what it used to. Being chosen to wear your country's colors is no longer the greatest honor a player can receive. Well not all of us feel that way. Since Bruce Arena still hasn't decided to contact me, someone tell Rudi that this native Berliner will always be ready to answer his call.

Watch Allen Hopkins call the action for the final two weekends of the 2001/02 German Bundesliga season only on Fox Sports World.