German hopes rest on replacement striker

Germany's 4-0 demolition of Australia in their Group D opener set the three-time World Cup winners on course for what looked like a comfortable passage into the last 16 before a shock 1-0 defeat by Serbia.

Now the Germans have to face the worst-case scenario, having to beat Ghana in the final group match at an altitude of 1,700 metres at Johannesburg's Soccer City on Wednesday with their first-choice striker Miroslav Klose suspended.

"I will wait until after the final training on Tuesday before I decide who will be my starting striker," Low said. "But every player, every striker is ready and eager to play."

The most likely choice as the team's lone forward is Cacau, who scored three goals in two friendly matches before the World Cup and was only edged out of the starting line-up by Klose in South Africa. He also came on and netted against Australia.

"Despite the defeat there were many positive things from the Serbia match and we have drawn our lessons from that," Low said. "There is no hint of resignation (in the squad)."

"We have (only) scored through two penalties but we will rectify that in the next game," said coach Milovan Rajevac, knowing they have failed to score more than one goal in each of their last 12 games.

"We squandered a lot of scoring chances but we must avoid this in the next game. We'll correct those mistakes against Germany," said Gyan.

"Germany are a strong and an experienced team but they have a weakness too. Though strong, there's a weakness in defence. We'll certainly have a chance to score," said defender Hans Sarpei.

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