A decision on whether Germany defender Antonio Rüdiger will play the Euro 2024 last 16 match against Denmark will be made "shortly before the game" on Saturday.
The German Football Federation (DFB) said on Thursday that Rüdiger was still in recovery training after suffering a right thigh muscle strain in the final group match against Switzerland.
Rüdiger is being treated several times a day by the team's medical staff and was unable to take part in the team training session on Thursday at Germany's headquarters in Herzogenaurach.
However, the Real Madrid centre back has taken "the next step" towards recovery, the DFB said.
If Rüdiger is not fit for the match, coach Julian Nagelsmann will have to rebuild his entire central defence because Rüdiger's partner Jonathan Tah is suspended after receiving a second yellow card.
This could force Nagelsmann to field back-ups Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton, who have just 15 caps between them and have never played together.
Schlotterbeck said in a news conference that he hopes Rüdiger is able to play and said the biggest issue could be the emotional side.
"I've also had the injury before, it's not easy to get it out of your head. I hope he makes it, but we'll just have to wait until Saturday," he said.
Schlotterbeck not thinking of 2022 World Cup
The defender said that his mistake in the 2022 World Cup opener against Japan, that led to the opponents' late 2-1 win, are not on his mind anymore.
"That was over a year and a half ago. You're still bringing it up. That means it's haunting you, not me. I can deal with it," he told journalists.
"It happened back then, I didn't want it to happen. I'm now focussing on the next games," Schlotterbeck said ahead of his potential start against Denmark.
Schlotterbeck's career with Germany hasn't been easy so far. The defender conceded several penalties, then came the unsuccessful match against Japan.
Nagelsmann didn't call up Schlotterbeck in his first three nominations and publicly called for more consistency.
Playing alongside defender Mats Hummels, Schlotterbeck was an important piece in the Borussia Dortmund team that reached the Champions League final.
The Euro 2024 nomination "is confirmation of my performance. I was delighted, I'm already happy and proud," he said.