HERZOGENAURACH: Germany started their preparations for the European Championship quarter-final against Spain without midfielder Emre Can yesterday.
The 30-year-old was the only member of the 26-man squad missing from the training pitch in Herzogenaurach, with Germany citing stress management as the reason.
It was Germany’s first training session since the 2-0 last-16 win over Denmark on Saturday.
Players had been given two days to unwind.
Can seems likely to be fit for Friday’s clash in Stuttgart.
Centreback Jonathan Tah is also pushing to start after his suspension against Denmark let in the impressive Nico Schlotterbeck.
Leftback David Raum fought his way into the team against the Danes but Maximilian Mittelstadt, who started in the group stage, is training hard.
Playmaker Florian Wirtz, dropped in favour of Leroy Sane in the last 16, is in a similar situation. Spain are the only side at the Euros in Germany to win all their games so far and look slight favourites over the hosts and fellow three-time winners.
But former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is tipping Julian Nagelsmann’s side.
“In terms of quality, they are perhaps a little better than us. But they are too small in height and they are very inexperienced,” the 54-year-old told Welt TV. — dpa
