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Lahm upbeat after surgery

20 May 2006 - 11:52:16

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Germany full-back Philipp Lahm expects to be fit to play at the World Cup despite being forced to undergo elbow surgery.

The Bayern Munich defender damaged the joint during a friendly game between the German national team and amateur side Luckenwalde on Tuesday and now faces an anxious wait to discover whether he will be ready for the Group A opener against Costa Rica on June 9

An upbeat Lahm said: "I am confident that I will make it. The surgery went well and I am thinking positively.

"The good thing is that I can start running again on Saturday and therefore there should be no problem in terms of my fitness."

The 22-year-old's surgeon, Professor Ludwig Seebauer, was also optimistic, adding: "It could have been worse. It was not a fracture which would have ended the World Cup for him.

"I would put Philipp's chances of playing at the World Cup at 80 to 90 per cent."