Turkey at full stretch for Euro semi
Germany coach Joachim Low says Torsten Frings is fit to play against Turkey despite suffering from a fractured rib.
The midfielder returned to training on Monday after missing the quarter-final win over Portugal, but has been passed fit to return if he is needed.
Turkey could have as many as eight players sidelined for the game because of injury or suspension.
But coach Fatih Terim has ruled out using third-choice keeper Tolga Zengin as an outfield player.
The 54-year-old had suggested he could be forced to bring the keeper off the bench to use as a defender or a striker because of their lack of numbers.
But he claimed his remarks had been taken out of context.
“It was a joke,” he confirmed, “but people have taken it seriously. It was just a joke to express the fact that we had many injured players.”
Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel is suspended, and Newcastle midfielder Emre has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Volkan misses out after his two-match ban was upheld for a red card against Czech Republic.
They will also be without the suspended Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan and Emre Asik, while Nihat Kahveci, Emre Gungor and Servet Cetin are also injured.
Terim said Tumer Metin might be able to play the last 30 minutes of the match despite suffering from a groin strain, and defensive midfielder Mehmet Aurelio returns from a one-match ban.
The Turks were without six players when they beat Croatia 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals Friday.
They lost a further three – Tuncay, Arda and Emre Asik – to suspension after picking up yellow cards during the match at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna.
Striker Nihat was ruled out of the tournament on Sunday with a thigh injury, but Uefa insists it will not be making a special dispensation for Turkey to call up more players to their squad.
Uefa spokesman William Gaillard said: “You can’t replace any players after the first game of the tournament has been played.
“We know some teams are facing difficulties, but this is a hard rule of the tournament. We have no intention of changing the tournament rules.
“If a team only had eight players to choose from before a match, then we might call an emergency meeting. But we have had no requests and we would find it a bit difficult changing now.”
Germany will have coach Joachim Low back on the bench after he was suspended from their quarter-final.
One of his major decisions will be whether to revert to his preferred 4-4-2 formation or stick with the 4-5-1 he switched to so successfully against Portugal.
“We did well with a 4-5-1 formation, but my favourite is a 4-4-2,” said Low.
“I will assess Turkey and decide which system to play and whether we will field one, two or maybe three strikers.
“No matter what formation we play, the players must put the work in.
“It’s important we run and when you get that right, tactics don’t really matter.”
The change to just one striker allowed more protection for skipper Michael Ballack to push forward and he responded with their second goal.
If Low, who has a fully fit squad to pick from, decides to bring back Frings he will likely come in for either Simon Rolfes or Thomas Hitzlsperger.
“All players are available – we are able to call on everyone,” Low said. “Torsten Frings has trained as usual, with a protective band.”
Source: BBC Sport
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