Germany camp does not resemble a hospital: Joachim Loew

ST MARTIN- Germany coach Joachim Loew today dismissed reports his pre-World Cup camp resembled a hospital due to the number of injured players, including captain Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, and said all would be fit "within days".

Lahm and keeper Manuel Neuer are recovering from injuries and have yet to start training, while playmaker Schweinsteiger and defender Marcel Schmelzer train alone at their northern Italy training camp.

Holding midfielder Sami Khedira only recently returned to action after six months out injured.

"(When you) see reports you would think that we are in a hospital here but that is not the case," he told reporters in his first news conference since the team's arrival in the Italian Alps for a 10-day camp last week.

"The players are working very well and as it stands now I am very satisfied. Some are still injured and cannot fully train with the team but they are all training individually and I am very confident that it will work out."

Germany, drawn with Ghana, Portugal and the United States in Group G, are eager to end an 18-year title drought and Loew said all would be fit in time for the tournament starting in Brazil next month.

"Philipp will start running tomorrow and then we have to see every day. We should not force it," he said, adding that Neuer would continue receiving treatment for an injured shoulder.

He said players like Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Neuer would not be affected too much if they missed a few days of training.

"We assume that all of them will be fully fit within days," said the 54-year-old, sipping an espresso.

"That is what they are working on. According to our medical department these are all short-term injury and I see no problem."

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt