Germany midfielder Toni Kroos is a doubt for his team's European Championship qualifier in Turkey because he has the flu.
Germany coach Joachim Loew said Tuesday that Kroos is almost certainly out of Friday's game, but should recover in time to face Belgium in Duesseldorf four days later.
''If there isn't a marked improvement, he probably won't travel to Istanbul, but join up instead with the rest of the squad on Saturday,'' Loew said.
A final decision will be made on the Bayern Munich midfielder's fitness before the team flies out Wednesday.
Loew expects Lazio striker Miroslav Klose and Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Oezil to recover from knocks sustained in their respective league games over the weekend.
Germany has already qualified for next year's tournament in Poland and Ukraine, but Loew says motivation remains high.
''We want to finish qualifying unbeaten, and we'll try to win the last two games, too,'' the 51-year-old coach said.
Turkey is two points ahead of Belgium, with both countries fighting to finish second in Group A for a playoff place.
''Passions will be high, especially for the game in Turkey. The fans will do everything to get behind their team,'' said Loew, who had brief coaching spells at Turkish clubs Fenerbahce and Adanaspor.
Loew ruled out making wholesale changes against either country.
''We've qualified so quickly and competently, and that with so many young players with great promise for the future. We still have five competitive matches - not friendlies - in which we want to make a few tactical changes and play a few different players,'' Loew said. ''I certainly won't be changing seven or eight positions like I did (in the 2-2 friendly) against Poland, for example.''
