Sao Paulo (AFP) — USA striker Jozy Altidore will miss this week’s group finale with Germany but remains hopeful of returning from injury to play again in this World Cup, coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Tuesday.

The 24-year-old pulled up painfully during the USA’s win over Ghana on June 16, but Klinsmann said he hoped to have him back should the USA qualify for the knock-out stages.

“Jozy is recovering really well, he’s doing a tremendous job and our medical staff is on top of it. This game comes still too early for him,” Klinsmann told reporters.

“But we’re working on him, we’ll get him back in this tournament as we said. So once this game hopefully is done successfully we’ll have a good chance to have him back in the team.”

Qualification is not assured for the Americans, who are second on goal-difference in Group G behind Germany. Ghana and Portugal are both three points behind meaning a draw in either final group game would see the United States through.

Klinsmann said the rest of his team was fit and recovered from the tough 2-2 draw against Portugal as they prepare to take on Germany on Thursday in Recife.

“Everybody else is on board, is fit, is hungry, is willing to get that last result in order to qualify for the knock-out round,” he said.

AFP Photo / Javier Soriano

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