5 Jul 2010

German star ruled out of semi-finals

7:13 am on 5 July 2010

Germany will need to replace suspended four-time goal scorer Thomas Mueller when they take on Spain in their World Cup semi-final on Thursday but coach Joachim Loew says that won't be a problem.

The 20-year-old winger has wreaked havoc in his first major tournament, scoring his fourth goal in Germany's 4-nil demolition of Argentina to advance to the last four but Loew says no one in his young squad is irreplaceable.

Mueller, who only won his first international cap in March in a friendly against Argentina and was one of Loew's last call-ups for Germany's youngest World Cup squad since 1934, has been crucial to their fast-paced style of attacking football.

However Loew says he has plenty of other players in his squad that can fill Mueller's shoes and he's convinced his side will lose none of its potency on attack.