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Klose out for Belgium game; Schweinsteiger and Boateng doubtful
Oct 10, 2011, 13:21 GMT
Dusseldorf - Last year's game-winner Miroslav Klose is ruled out for good with injury for Germany's Euro 2012 qualifier against Belgium, coach Joachim Loew said on Monday.
Loew said that midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and defender Jerome Boateng are doubtful but playmaker Mesut Oezil may return on Tuesday after missing last week's 3-1 win in Turkey.
Looking at the Lazio striker Klose, Loew said: 'We tried everything (but) he still has a lot of pain in his knee.'
Klose scored the 1-0 winner in Brussels last year in the opening group A qualifier. Germany have now won all nine games and hope to end the campaign with a perfect 10-0 record on Tuesday in Dusseldorf.
Loew warned that Belgium has everything to play for in its fight with Turkey for second place in the group, behind the qualified Germans, and a playoff tie for the 2012 finals in Ukraine and Poland.
'Belgium have it in their own hands to reach the playoffs. We must expect them to be highly motivated,' said Loew.
Loew said he will not make major experiments for the game.
If Oezil has recovered from Achilles tendon problems the Real Madrid will take the place of teenager Mario Goetze, who is bed-ridden with a flu.
Toni Kroos is back from illness and could take the place of Munich team-mate Schweinsteiger while Boateng could be replaced by Schalke's Benedikt Hoewedes.
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