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• Nickname:Die Mannschaft
• Founded:1908
• Manager:Joachim Löw

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Germany upbeat on Ballack fitness

02 Jul 2006 - 15:50:16

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Germany's assistant coach Joachim Loew is confident Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose will be fit to play against Italy in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final.

Captain Ballack was hampered by severe cramp in the closing stages of the quarter-final victory against Argentina, while striker Klose was unable to complete the match because of a calf problem.

Loew said: "They can both play on Tuesday. They are getting daily treatment and the next few days will be a case of recuperation for them.

"They both ran an incredible amount in that game. We have been working intensively for six weeks and the match used up a lot of our energy."

Should the pair be passed fit, coach Jurgen Klinsmann is likely to name the same team which beat Argentina on penalties following a 1-1 draw.