Mertesacker given all clear after scare

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.