Germany started preparations for their Euro 2024 last 16 clash against Denmark without defender Antonio Rüdiger amid uncertainty whether he would be fit for Saturday's game.
The centre back was not part of Wednesday's training at Germany's base in Herzogenaurach after suffering a right thigh muscle strain in the final group match against Switzerland on Sunday.
What will Germany's defence look like?
Sporting director Rudi Völler said that Rüdiger only completed a short running session on Wednesday, and that it remains to be seen whether the medical department would get the defender fit for the first knock-out match in Dortmund.
"In the end, Toni will decide together with the coach and the medical department. At the moment, it's too early to say anything definitive," Völler said.
Rüdiger is Germany's starting centre back along with Jonathan Tah but with Tah having to serve a yellow card suspension coach Julian Nagelsmann may have to field a completely new heart of the defence.
The men in question are back-ups Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton, who have just 15 caps between them and have never played together.
Schlotterbeck came on for Tah for the final half hour against the Swiss while Anton is yet to play at the Euros.
Havertz or Füllkrug?
There is also a debate - at least in the country - whether Kai Havertz should continue as a starter despite only one goal so far, a penalty, or whether Niclas Füllkrug should get a chance in his Borussia Dortmund home stadium after scoring twice off the bench.
Völler named Füllkrug's 13 goals in 19 caps "extraordinary" and "unbelievable" but went on to stress Havertz' role in the team.
"Kai is an outstanding footballer, even if he hasn't scored a goal yet apart from the penalty. But he's hugely important for the team, the way he works, the way he holds the ball up front, the way he wants it. His team-mates notice that too," Völler said.
"You also need a playing centre-forward, and Kai can do that wonderfully. He does it exceptionally well in his own way."
Denmark no push-over
Germany topped their group with two victories and a draw but Völler stressed that the knock-out stage is "a new tournament" and warned Germany of Denmark.
"Now it counts and we're prepared. They're a dangerous opponent, we know that. We've really earned this optimism and self-confidence. This confidence, that we want to make it to the next round, we definitely have it," he said.
Denmark qualified for the last 16 by finishing second in Group C with three draws.
"It's a very physical, robust team that makes it difficult for any opponent to create chances," Völler said.
He added that coach Kasper Hjulmand's team is also strong from set-pieces, but has difficulties to score goals.
1992 and other meetings
Germany and Denmark have met four times at Euros and World Cups, most notably in the Euro 1992 final which Denmark won 2-0.
Denmark also won a group stage game at the 1986 World Cup while Germany prevailed in group matches at the Euros in 1988 and 2012.
