Podolski has a thigh injury and will face a late fitness test before kick-off. If Podolski doesn’t make it, his place is set to be taken by Stefan Kiessling as Brazilian born Cacau is definitely sidelined with an abdominal injury.

Otherwise, there are likely to be no changes for Loew’s side from the one that comprehensively beat England in the last round.

Argentina boss Diego Maradona is hopeful that playmaker Lionel Messi has sufficiently recovered from a virus to start this match.

Walter Samuel has overcome his injury and will start at centre half with Nicolas Burdisso the man most likely to make way.

Also back in contention is veteran Juan Sebastian Veron, but Maxi Rodriguez looks set to keep his place in the centre of midfield. Veron may have to be content with a place on the bench.

KICK-OFF: SATURDAY JULY 3rd 15:00 GMT

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Although centre backs Ledley King and Jamie Carragher are fit and free from suspension, Capello is set to stick with John Terry and Matthew Upson as his preferred central defensive pairing.

Capello is also set to stick with a midfield foursome consisting of Gareth Barry, James Milner, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.

Upfront, there is some concern over the fitness of Wayne Rooney after the Man United man sustained an ankle injury in England’s victory over Slovenia. However, the Manchester United striker is thought to be sufficiently fit to start. After his goal against Slovenia, Jermain Defoe is set to partner Rooney, with Heskey and Crouch on the bench.

Joachim Loew’s Germany side welcome striker Miroslav Klose back from suspension. With Brazilian born forward Cacao out, Klose’s return is timely and the striker is set to partner Lukas Podolski in attack for the Germans.

Rated doubtful is influential midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger – who has a thigh strain – and Jerome Boateng who has a calf injury. However, one of the stars of the 2010 World Cup so far, Mesut Ozil has overcome an ankle injury of his own and will start for Germany.

KICK-OFF: SUNDAY JUNE 27th 15:00 GMT

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Surprise additions to the provisional squad include Hamburg defender Dennis Aogo and Bayern Munich youngster Holger Badstuber.

GERMANY WORLD CUP SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Hans-Jorg Butt (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)

Defenders: Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg), Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Dennis Aogo (Hamburg).

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea/ENG), Sami Khedira (Stuggart), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Christian Trasch (Stuttgart), Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen), Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen).

Forwards: Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Cacau (Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich)

GERMANY WORLD CUP ODDS AND BETTING

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GERMANY WORLD CUP BETTING TIPS

The cliches most often used about Germany in the English football press are these: “never underestimate the Germans” and “Germany aren’t what they used to be”.

Although I hate to resort to such cliches, there’s truth in both of them. Germany do have a habit of raising their game for the big tournaments, despite the fact that they don’t have the quality of previous squads.

However, with players like Miroslav Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger in the ranks, Germany will have no problem winning Group D, which also contains the likes of Australia, Ghana and Serbia.

Excepting a blip in 1978, Germany have never failed to reach the quarter finals of a World Cup final and I would expect them to be able to match that this time around as well or even go one further and reach the semi-finals. In fact, I’d suggest betting on both outcomes to cover your bets.

Best Germany World Cup Tip: Germany to be eliminated at quarter finals plus Germany to be eliminated in semi-finals.

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