World Cup:Germany coach Joachim Loew admits there is a "major question mark" over the fitness of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Jerome Boateng ahead of Sunday's World Cup last-16 encounter with England.
Bayern Munich midfielder Schweinsteiger and stand-in left-back Boateng, who has just completed a move to Manchester City, sustained injuries in Wednesday’s final Group D encounter against Ghana.
Schweinsteiger is struggling with a hamstring problem while Boateng is troubled by a calf strain.
And Loew conceded today both are doubts to face England in Bloemfontein at the weekend. He said: “There is simply no way I can say at this stage whether one, or both for that matter, will be on the pitch on Sunday. Neither of them will train with the team today — that’s for sure.
“It would be major risk, too much of a risk, to include them in training sessions. We will take it day by day. Let’s wait and see what happens tomorrow. We need players who are 100 per cent fit and not 90 per cent.
“We need players who can give their all in order to survive — 90 per cent is not sufficient. They have to be fully match fit.”
Loew revealed both men had already received intensive treatment just to put them in with a chance of playing.
He added: “Hats off and great compliments must be paid to our medical staff. Straight after the game and until late into the night and yesterday our team worked flat out to deal with Boateng’s and Schweini’s muscle problems.
“We can say there is a major question mark over both players.”