German coach Joachim Low will be starting its world cup plan with so many injury issues to most of his key players as camp opens on today. Low who released a 27 man list will assemble his lads in northern Italy for the next 10 days where preparations and hostilities will begin.
Injuries to the trio of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, skipper Philipp Lahm with bruised ankle, vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger with an inflamed knee ligament and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer battling with a shoulder problem. other major injury worries are Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira and Lazio striker Miroslav Klose who are both battled with injury all through the season and are short of match fitness.
Low said “With regard to the World Cup participation of Manuel and Philipp, we are optimistic but both will be treated intensively,” He said further “It is good and also important that they will be with us from the start in the Tirol, even if they won’t initially be able to train.” but same cant be said of Schweinsteiger who missed his team triumph on Saturday in the DFB Pokal against.
Germany will play in two preparatory games in Moenchengladbach against Cameroon on June 1st and five days later will face Armenia in Mainz before jetting out to Brazil where they will face Portugal in opening game on June 16 in Salvador.
“I want to see players fighting for their World Cup berths,” he said. “The tournament will certainly challenge all the players physically. Those who go with us to Brazil must all have top fitness and be in a good playing rhythm, that is what the training camp is all about.”
To further keep the team in the top shape the German Football Association will take the U-23 team to Italy to give Low’s team a quality opposition to train with.Low will have to trim down his squad ti 23. “There will be some hard choices, but that is part of my job,” he said.