Cacau doubtful for Argentina clash
Reuters - Wednesday 30 June 2010, 17:13
PRETORIA - Germany striker
Cacau has not recovered from an abdominal muscle strain that
forced him out of their second round win over England and is
doubtful for Saturday's quarter-final clash against Argentina.
Cacau picked up the injury in training last week and was
replaced by Miroslav Klose in their 4-1 win over England. Klose
is expected to win his 100th cap on Saturday in Cape Town.
"Apart from Cacau, all other players are participating in
training. He is doing some light running and therapy. But today
and tomorrow it will not happen (training with the team)," coach
Joachim Low said.
"So he is also doubtful for the weekend. The final decision
will be taken on Friday," Low said.
Striker Lukas Podoloski broke off training in the afternoon
but team officials said it was purely a precautionary measure
after he complained of a minor muscle problem.
The 25-year-old is expected to play on Saturday.
While heaping praise on the Argentine team, Low said they
were not invincible.
"I expect an unbelievably tight match as we cannot allow
ourselves any mistakes because for any mistake we make, they
will punish us in an ice-cold way. They are the top favourites
for the World Cup. They have so many players able to score."
BALLACK RETURN
Low, who will have the support in the stands of German
Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as former captain Michael
Ballack, who was injured weeks before the tournament and had to
drop out, said Argentina did also have some weaknesses.
"Argentina can be hurt," he said. "We have found some
details of their weaknesses but I am not going to elaborate on
that."
He also said he was not yet preparing for a penalty
shoot-out. Germany beat Argentina on penalties in the
quarter-finals at the World Cup four years ago.
A small note detailing which side the Argentina
penalty-takers usually picked was given to then Germany keeper
Jens Lehmann and was largely credited with helping him save two
spot kicks and send them through to the semi-finals.
"If we needed a note in 2006 for the penalties this time we
need a whole catalogue if you see the quality of players they
have in the squad," Low said.
Follow FFT.com on Twitter
Join FFT.com on Facebook