Berlin - AFP
Germany coach Joachim Loew has a potential headache ahead of Friday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Turkey in Istanbul with both key strikers Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose struggling to be fit. Veteran Klose, who plays for Lazio, broke off training on Wednesday with a painful knee, while Bayern Munich's Gomez is struggling with a groin strain. Should both fail to be fit, Loew would have just one available striker in Brazil-born Cacau to call on with his team chasing their ninth straight win in Group A in their qualification campaign. Germany's play-maker Mesut Ozil, who plays for Real Madrid, was also missing from training on Wednesday because of a sore Achilles tendon and midfielder Toni Kroos is certainly out with 'flu. The Bayern Munich star remained in Germany when the team flew out to Istanbul, but will link up with the squad on Sunday for next Tuesday's final qualifier against Belgium in Duesseldorf. "Our goal is to win the European title," said Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff. "After our strong performance at the 2010 World Cup (when Germany finished third), many people were speaking positively about our young team. "And a victory in the heated atmosphere in Turkey would be another building block as we look to grow as a team ahead of Euro 2012." Turkey are second in Group A and victory over the Germans in Istanbul would give Guus Hiddink's team a great chance of going into the play-offs for a Euro 2012 place.