Published on 11:00 PM, September 08, 2009

FIFA World CupSouth Africa 2010

Enke out for Germany

Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke is out of Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan with a mysterious virus while coach Joachim Loew looks set to continue his youthful experiment.
First-choice goalie Enke has been hit by an infection and Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler looks set to continue between the posts in Hanover after a strong performance in last Saturday's 2-0 friendly win over South Africa.
"I am really disappointed, but I do not have the feeling that I am fully fit," Enke, 32, told German tabloid Bild on Tuesday.
"With this risk hanging over me, I can't go into a World Cup qualification game. I hope we will soon know what I have."
As the experiment of playing a 4-3-3 formation worked well against South Africa, wingers Marko Marin and Mesut Oezil, who both impressed against next year's World Cup hosts, are set to be given another chance to shine.
Germany need a win over minnows Azerbaijan to maintain their place at the top of Group Four where Loew's side lead Russia by a point with the group rivals set to clash in Moscow on October 10.
Bertie Vogts-coached Azerbaijan are not expected to present much of a challenge as they are joint bottom of the group alongside fellow minnows Liechtenstein with just a single point from their seven matches.
Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez is expected to be fit after pulling up in training on Sunday having scored the opening goal in Saturday's victory.
The 24-year-old has had a scan which revealed no serious damage, but it looks like his team-mate Miroslav Klose will be left on the bench again against Azerbaijan.
Klose's pedigree of 45 goals in 90 games speaks for itself, but Loew used Gomez as the lone striker against South Africa with possession supplied by Marin and Oezil and the experiment is likely to be repeated.
With bigger tests ahead for the national team, Loew looks to be resting the 31-year-old Klose, who was the top scorer at the last World Cup.
"We know, what he can do and he has always performed for the national team," said Loew.
And Germany captain Michael Ballack brushed off any concerns about Klose.
"The discussions around Miro are redundant. Everyone knows what he can do.
"And the national team can always rely on him."
Having battered the Bafana Bafana on Saturday, Loew sees no reason to change the 4-3-3 system and two key members of his squad will be reaching landmarks.
Despite his early years Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be winning his 70th cap, despite being just 25, while defender Philipp Lahm, also 25, will reach the 60th milestone.
Having struggled to a 2-0 win in Baku against Azerbaijan last month, Germany raised their performance noticeably against South Africa and a similar level is expected on Wednesday with Schweinsteiger saying the squad have big plans.
"My goal is not to catch up with someone like Lothar Matthaeus (who has 150 caps), but for this team to win a big title," said the Bayern star.