Germany may need to face a potent Portugal side without the services of top scorer Lukas Podolski, right. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Euro 2008 hasn't exactly gone to plan for Germany thus far.

Considered the favourite prior to the tournament, the Germans were less than impressive in finishing in second place in Group B behind Croatia, leaving many to wonder whether the three-time champions of Europe can raise their game and pin back the challenge of Portugal in Thursday's quarter-final clash in Basel, Switzerland.

Taking on Cristiano Ronaldo, considered by most the best player in the world, and a talented Portuguese side is tough enough, but Germany might have the extra burden of doing it without two of their key players.

Lukas Podolski, the team's top scorer with three goals, is struggling with a calf injury that could prevent the Bayern Munich star from suiting up against Portugal. Also questionable is holding midfielder Torsten Frings, who broke a rib in Germany's previous contest against Austria.

And if that's not enough, German coach Joachim Low will have to watch the game from the stands after he earned a one-game suspension from UEFA for arguing with the fourth official in the Austria game.

Low's suspension means he can't have any contact with his players from the time they arrive at the stadium until the game is over. Low's assistant Hans-Dieter Flick is expected to handle the team.

"Coaches act on instinct as the game progresses and this won't be possible, so it is important for him to be able to set things up properly before the match," said German team official Oliver Bierhoff.

Bierhoff admitted that the Germans will be focusing on Ronaldo, not so much trying to stop him as slow him down.

"You can never stop him for 90 minutes, but it is very important that the defence and midfield stay very close together when he has the ball," explained Bierhoff, who scored the winning goal for Germany in the final of Euro '96.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari underlined Ronaldo's importance to the team when he said the Manchester United star elevates the play of his teammates.

"He has a strong will to win that I've not seen in anyone else and this rubs off on others," explained Scolari.

While Portugal has Ronaldo, Germany has Michael Ballack, the dynamic Chelsea midfielder who can decide a game in a wink of an eye, like he did against Austria when he scored the winning goal on a gorgeous free kick from 25 yards out.

"He is a great player, with a lot of technical quality. He is one of the great players in this tournament," Scolari said of Ballack.

Scolari knows there is more to Germany than just Ballack, though.

"He deserves special attention, but we can't concern ourselves only with Ballack," said Scolari, who called Germany's Philipp Lahm the best wing-back in the tournament. "Germany is growing. They had not such a good game in their second match (a loss to Croatia) but improved in the third and are in good condition to face us."

Germany and Portugal have met twice before at the European Championships, the Portuguese earning a 3-0 win in 2000 in the last meeting. The teams played to a goalless draw in 1984.

Germany defeated Portugal 3-1 in the third-place game at the 2006 World Cup, the last time the two sides clashed.