BERLIN: Germany captain Michael Ballack missed Sunday's fitness session because of a foot injury, team manager Oliver Bierhoff said. ``He has a little problem on his foot, he is being examined and will be treated,'' Bierhoff said, without giving details.

Team spokesman Harald Stenger said he could not enlarge on Bierhoff's statement.

Ballack was on the receiving end of several hard tackles in Saturday's win over Sweden that took Germany into the quarterfinals, but showed no signs of an injury.

Sunday's practice was specifically designed to speed up the recovery of players in the wake of the fast-paced Sweden match.

``We saw in the locker room after the game that some players were so tired they could hardly celebrate,'' Bierhoff said.

Time off

The players were then given time off until Monday evening.

The German team flew back to its base in Berlin immediately after its impressive victory over Sweden, arriving just in time to see Argentina beat Mexico.

``We didn't have a chance to see much, but our scouting team has done a thorough job,'' Bierhoff said. ``Argentina has looked the strongest team so far, it will be very difficult, but we saw in its games against the Netherlands and Mexico that it was vulnerable.''

Germany played Argentina twice last year and both matches ended 2-2.

Striker Lukas Podolski, who notched both goals against Sweden inside the first 12 minutes, missed both of those games but has seen enough to pass judgment on the Argentine team.

Podolski's take

``We can hold our own against them, they are not stronger,'' Podolski said. ``They've played some good games, they have some great players.

``They are surely one of the favourites but I'd rather play such teams, teams that play soccer, and not teams that only defend.''

Germany has been getting stronger with each game and has not conceded a goal in its last three matches.

Podolski and his forward partner Miroslav Klose have combined for seven of the team's 10 goals. — AP

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