“A game like this affects the body, we have to make sure to recover the players and we want more”.
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They will play the victor of Sunday s quarter-final between France and surprise packages Iceland.
Tears rolled down the cheeks of Gianluigi Buffon but the legendary Italy keeper said there were no regrets despite Azzurri missing a golden chance to beat Germany to a Euro 2016 semifinal spot.
Germany’s Mario Gomez has been ruled out of the rest of Euro 2016 through injury while Sami Khedira and captain Bastian Schweinsteiger are doubts for Thursday’s semi-final against France, the DFB said Sunday.
Germany did much more than that, crushing the hosts 7-1 in Belo Horizonte in an extraordinary semi-final, leaving millions of Brazilians in a state of shock.
Loew has suffered one blow with key midfielder Sami Khedira set to be ruled out of the rest of the tournament after limping off with a partially torn groin muscle against Italy.
Low said: “It is very bitter to lose important players, especially at this crucial stage of the tournament”. They are playing at home and have a lot of confidence.
“We’ll have to find solutions”, said Loew, who added that the win over Italy had taken a physical and mental toll on his side.
“The point is, in 2014 Loew trusted the team and played the same formation from the quarter-finals and that’s how you win titles!” “We have players who are ready to go, so we are confident because we can count on players who are prepared and have proved their quality”. “I have always said they are among the favourites”.
How Loew copes without Hummels, who is suspended, will hinge on whether he sticks with the 3-4-2-1 formation he chose against Italy, or returns to 4-2-3-1.
“After I saw the Spain game, that was my first thought”. Italy has never lost to Germany in a major tournament up until that game.
“I’m very proud of what this France side is achieving and I hope we’ll come out once again with the right result”. It is like it was against Italy: a game of two teams without standing individuals.
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Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Weigl or Liverpool’s Emre Can could step in if the 31-year-old Schweinsteiger doesn’t make it.
