Germany captain Birgit Prinz expects to start Saturday's quarter-final on the bench again as her side look to beat Japan and book a semi-final berth at the women's World Cup.
The 33-year-old, the most capped player in women's football with 214 caps and 128 goals for Germany, was dropped for the final Group A game against France and does not expect to start against the Japanese.
"I've always been part of the team. Of course, I want to play again, but if not, I'll find other ways to help the team," said Prinz, the three-time winner of FIFA's women's player of the year award.
Below par-performances against both Canada and Nigeria in Germany's opening wins saw Prinz face criticism in the German press.
Having won her first cap in 1994, she will end her career after the tournament and briefly considered calling it quits after being taken off during the 1-0 win over Nigeria.
"The first emotions which went through my head were: Why should I (keep playing)? Why do I do this to myself?," she admitted. "But that was only the initial reaction."
Prinz sat out the 4-2 win over France as replacement Inka Grings netted twice.
"I do not think I'm going to play from the beginning," she said. "There is no reason to change anything in attack."
Source: AFP
