Germany boss expects 'away' game at home to Turkey

Posted Friday, October 01, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

BERLIN (AFP) - Germany coach Joachim Loew is concerned next week's Euro 2012 qualifier against Turkey in Berlin could be an away game for his side given the amount of Turks living in the German capital.

"I can imagine it will be like that," Loew told Berlin newspaper BZ.

"I was at the Euro 2000 qualifier in 1999 at Munich as a spectator and it was similar.

"Many Turks live in Berlin and it is expected that at least half of the fans will be Turkish, but my team can handle that."

The game will be held at Berlin's Olympic Stadium next Friday with both unbeaten sides on maximum six points in Group A after two matches.

But the 74,228-capacity stadium is expected to be a cauldron and Loew is not underestimating Guus Hiddink-coached Turkey.

"They have excellent individual football players, moreover they are motivated because they were not at the 2010 World Cup," said the 50-year-old Loew.

Loew will announce his squad for the match on Friday.

The team is expected to be captained by Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm with Michael Ballack still recovering from a fractured knee cap.