Germany were always going to be one of the favourites for the upcoming World Cup but a string of injuries has made observers slightly reticent about them managing to go all the way to the final and even perhaps lifting the trophy at the Maracana on July 13th.
Major injuries to Sami Khedira and vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger have crippled plans in the engine room of the German side, the latter only just returning to tentative first-team football this week.
Coach Joachim Low also has concerns up front, where long-term casuaties Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez have either been crocked or are back now and not scoring goals.
Ilkay Gundogan, Sven Bender, Holger Badstuber and Benedikt Howedes are just another four absentees as it stands.
And so, although favourites to progress from Group G, where they wil take on Prtugal, USA and Ghana, Germany are far from in a comfortable position ahead of Brazil.
