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FLU HIT GERMANY


A flu outbreak threatens to keep some Germany players and coach Joachim Low from appearing at Saturday's World Cup third-place play-off.

Assistant coach Hansi Flick, filling in for Low at the pre-match press conference, said the illness could affect selections for the match and also revealed that striker Miroslav Klose, who is chasing Ronaldo's all-time World Cup scoring record, will decide himself whether he has sufficiently recovered from a back injury to take part against Uruguay.

Klose is one short of Ronaldo's tally of 15 goals and his attempt to enter the record books, if fit to play, would give some lasting meaning to a match with little riding on it.

Fellow striker Lukas Podolski and captain Philipp Lahm are two of the players worst affected by flu and Flick said a decision on their selection will be made on Saturday morning. Team manager Oliver Bierhoff said Low was struggling worst of all and that there was a chance he may not even be able to attend the match.

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