Confident Germany overcome flu scare ahead of France clash

John Bagratuni, dpa

Germany appear to have overcome a flu-scare as confident coach Joachim Loew has all players available for Friday's World Cup quarter-final against France.

Loew said that the condition of seven players who had a sore throat had not worsened, and all 22 players left in the squad trained at the Maracana Thursday. Shkodran Mustafi is out injured.

"No one had a fever and they could train. There was no feeling of tiredness," Loew told a news conference.

The coach did not reveal whether captain Philipp Lahm would remain in midfield as in all previous games in Brazil, or move back to his previous position as right back.

Keeping the captain in midfield along with Toni Kroos and Bastian Schweinsteiger or Sami Khedira is likely as Germany want to impose their strength there.

"It will be important for us to dominate in midfield. That's where these games are decided," Kroos said.

"If we play to our ability we are the better team, but we have to show it on the pitch," the midfielder added.

Loew shared the optimism, saying: "I am completely relaxed. We are among the last eight, tomorrow we will be among the last four, and then we will see."

Friday's game comes on the 60th anniversary of Germany's first World Cup title, a 3-2 upset over Hungary on July 4, 1954 and is the 100th played in the renovated Maracana.

"We heard a lot about the stadium history. I trained here for the first time, it is a nice stadium. But it will be up to us, and not the stadium, to have good memories. I hope to come back here," Kroos said in reference to the July 13 final in the same iconic venue.

Loew said: "This is not important for us, we are measuring ourselves with a classy French team. Playing in a mythical stadium is a big motivation for us. France are very stable, the match is evenly balanced but we have a lot of confidence."

Les Bleus will also have to expect goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to act as a sweeper again, as in his stunning 21 excursions out of the penalty area in the 2-1 win over Algeria Monday.

"We know Manu is an outstanding footballer. He is very important for our game. He is an 11th outfield player. Manu is very important because he is a complete player," Kroos said.

Loew agreed, saying: "He is a player behind the defence. He has a great feeling for long balls. He is technically almost as good as the other players and has a great sense for distance. He is supposed to take these risks."