Germany players struck by flu ahead of France game

Germany caoch Joachim Loew said seven of the players were suffering from flu symptoms but would not name them. Picture: Getty

“Seven players have somehow come down with slight cases of the flu,” Loew was quoted telling Germany’s ARD radio. He said that most had “throat aches” but did not reveal their names.

Loew then added: “As a result, it’s too early to make any final decisions about the lineup.”

Defender Mat Hummels missed Germany’s round of 16 match against Algeria on Monday due to a fever. He said on Wednesday he had recovered and posted a picture of himself sitting on the beach.

Reserve midfielder Christoph Kramer was suffering from a case of the chills on Wednesday and was the only player to not take part in the training session, said assistant coach Andreas Koepke, who added that all of the other players were fit and ready to travel to Rio de Janeiro for Friday’s match. Loew had said that the travel across Brazil and different climate zones for their four matches so far, as well as matches in tropical heat, a heavy downpour and then in chilly Porto Alegre - along with air conditioning - had taken their toll.

Loew said: “I hope they’re all doing well now, It’s not all that bad at the moment. I don’t want to dramatise it.”

But Loew said that Hummels condition had actually deteriorated.

“Mats Hummels suffered a negative setback on the second day,” Loew said.

Loew has come under heavy fire in Germany for his decision to put captain Philipp Lahm in midfield instead of at right back, where he has excelled for years. Loew was forced to put Lahm at right back late in the Algeria match due to injuries.