Mertesacker given all clear after scare

08 June 2012 10:16

German central defender Per Mertesacker has overcome an injury scare and will face Portugal on Saturday.

"There was some brief uncertainty about Per," said Germany assistant coach Hansi Flick

"After a corner, he collided with Jerome Boateng and he remained on the ground for a while, but it wasn't as dramatic as it first looked and he was quickly given the all-clear."

With 81 appearances for Germany, Mertesacker - who played in the defeat by Spain in the Euro 2008 final - looks set to partner either Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels or Bayern Munich's Holger Badstuber at centre-back with captain Philipp Lahm at left-back and Jerome Boateng on the right.

Source: AFP