Germany coach Joachim Loew has said injury-hit playmaker Mesut Ozil plus strikers Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez must all prove their fitness Thursday ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier against Turkey.
The trio have all yet to train this week with the Germany squad ahead of Friday's match in Istanbul and Loew has set the deadline of the final training session to prove their fitness - 24 hours before the match.
Veteran Klose, who plays for Lazio, has an excess of blood on the knee, Bayern Munich's Gomez is struggling with a groin strain and Real Madrid's Ozil has problems with his Achilles tendon.
Germany have already qualified for Euro 2012, after they beat Austria last month, and host Belgium in their final qualifier in Duesseldorf next Tuesday.
Should both Klose and Gomez fail to be fit, Loew would have just one available striker in Brazil-born Cacau to call on with his team chasing their ninth straight win in Group A in their qualification campaign.
"We have in fact a few question marks over our players," admitted Loew, who has left Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos at home in Germany with the 'flu.
"Gomez, Klose and Ozil have yet to train with the team.
"We have agreed on Thursday that they should at least attend the final training session or it would be very difficult for them to play against Turkey."
Turkey are second in Group A and a rare win over the Germans would boost their chances of securing a berth at Euro 2012, to be hosted by the Ukraine and Poland next June.
Source: AFP
