Germany quartet miss training
Reuters - Friday 09 July 2010, 10:10
ERASMIA - Germany coach
Joachim Low was forced to skip training and stay in bed on
Friday, a day before his team's third place playoff against
Uruguay, after coming down with a flu virus, the team said.
Low, whose future as Germany coach will be decided after
the World Cup, will, however, travel to Port Elizabeth with the
team for Saturday's match.
Captain Philipp Lahm was also down with the flu while Lukas
Podolski, Miroslav Klose and second choice keeper Tim Wiese were
also missing from the training session at Atteridgeville near
Pretoria, recovering from minor injuries.
Germany lost 1-0 to Spain in their semi-final on Wednesday
and will play Uruguay, who were defeated 3-2 by Netherlands.
Germany manager Oliver Bierhoff said it was not yet clear
who would play against Uruguay but said the team was determined
to help Klose, should he play, level Ronaldo's World Cup goal
record of 15. Klose has scored 14 in three tournaments.
"I think there is a big drive within the team and also his
wish to move higher up the list. It would also give the team
some pride," Bierhoff told reporters.
He said it was also not clear whether Germany would field a
full-strength team or if substitutes would start.
"On the one hand we want to win this match and then there is
the thought to thank the substitutes, who have been exceptional
in training, throughout all this period.
"We want to end this tournament on a high note."
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