Germany have a huge problem if Bastian Schweinsteiger is missing. It is touch and go whether he will make the starting eleven after picking up an injury on Wednesday against Ghana. Injuries lay Germany bear and show that aside from their starting side, they have little in reserve. More bad news for Deutschland came with the news that their star playmaker Mesut Ozil's grandmother sadly passed away on Thursday evening. How much this will affect him remains to be seen. Some would argue the side is hardly improved by the return of Miroslav Klose who has suffered a terrible season at Bayern Munich hardly playing for the German champions.

Lukas Pololski is another who has had a not so great season by his own standards and playing for lowly Cologne can not have helped his preparation. After a promising start, Germany have regressed as the tournament has progressed and were lucky not to lose against Ghana whose problem all tournament has been scoring. If the England striker's are on form then expect goals - this German side is not strong.

 

It may be wise to wait until seeing whether Schweinsteiger will play. He is the key man and his absence will see the odds tipped in England's favour.