Hamburg  - The German football federation DFB believes FIFA will take no action against Lukas Podolski over a pitch altercation with captain Michael Ballack during Germany's 2-0 victory over Wales in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

Podolski struck out a hand which made slight contact with Ballack's cheek during an angry exchange of words in a second-half incident.

A DFB spokesman said Friday it did not believe football's world governing body FIFA would punish the Bayern Munich striker for unsporting behaviour as the referee took no action at the time.

Frankfurt - Lukas Podolski returns to the Germany set-up for upcoming qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Wales after being named Thursday in coach Joachim Loew's 23-man squad.

Arne Friedrich of Bundesliga leaders Hertha Berlin and SV Hamburg's Marcell Jansen also return while Rene Adler, Tim Wiese and Robert Enke will battle it out for the goalkeeping position.

Munich  - Lukas Podolski's return to Cologne from Bayern Munich is expected to be finalized next week, officials from both clubs said after a meeting on Wednesday.

"The final decision will come next week. There is a clear tendency towards Cologne," Munich general manager Uli Hoeness told the website of the Bild daily.

Cologne general manager Michael Maier also said that Podolski's future will be decided "early next week."

Hamburg - Lukas Podolski expects his summer return to Cologne from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich to be finalized soon, the Germany striker said in an interview published on Saturday.

Podolski, 23, told the Bild daily that "a few details need to be finalized. I believe that we will reach an agreement soon."

Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and general manager Uli Hoeness indicated realier the clubs were were close to an agreement as well after Cologne made an improved offer.

Munich - Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski will not travel with the team to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday but will join up with the Germany squad to face England on Wednesday.

Podolski has not recovered in time from a back injury and will instead put in an extra training session in Munich, coach Juergen Klinsmann said Friday.

Podolski will join the Germany squad on Sunday, and national team coach Joachim Loew "will decide in what shape he is in to play against England" in Berlin on Wednesday, Klinsmann said.