Podolski a doubt for Germany's vital clash

Marco Giacomelli13 April 2012

Germany fear Lukas Podolski, who has scored all three of their goals at Euro 2008, could miss the decisive clash with Austria after picking up an ankle injury.

The striker was hurt in last night's shock 2-1 defeat to Croatia, a result which leaves one of the pre-tournament favourites needing a point fromMonday's Group B game to reach the quarter-finals.

Germany coach Joachim Loew said: "Podolski has taken a knock on the ankle and could not train today. We'll have to wait and see. We may have to make changes."

It's a blow for the Germans, who will definitely be without the suspended Bastian Schweinsteiger, sent off for retaliating to a tackle from Croatia's Jerko Leko.

"Bastian did us a disservice by getting sent off," added Loew. "I told the players not to get provoked or to react violently."

Podolski drilled in Germany's goal in the 78th minute of the match in Klagenfurt to join Spain's David Villa at the top of the tournament's scoring charts. By then they were trailing 2-0, with former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann blaming bad luck for the second goal.

Croatia, leading through Darijo Srna, got their second after Ivan Rakitic's cross took a deflection off Podolski towards the net.

Lehmann, who had begun to come out for the initial cross, managed to dive backwards and get a hand on it, but the ball struck his near post before rebounding back out to Ivica Olic, who had the easy task of slotting home.

"They were lucky on two occasions, first of all the deflection, and then I got it but could only deflect it onto the near post, and in between our two defenders there was a Croatian player who just pushed it in," said the Germany and Stuttgart No1.

Croatia created a whole host of chances with Luka Modric having a big influence. Their coach Slaven Bilic gave the new Tottenham midfielder a glowing tribute.

"Luka is a star even without this tournament, I keep saying to him every day that he is the best player in Europe," said Bilic.

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