Germany's World Cup hopes suffered a blow on Monday after defender Nico Schlotterbeck was ruled out of the tournament with an ankle injury.
The Borussia Dortmund player suffered a torn ligament in his left ankle in the 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast on Saturday, the German Football Association (DFB) confirmed.
The 26-year-old, the only left-footed centre-back in the German squad, is expected to be out for around two months, leaving him unable to play a further part in the tournament.
"We’re going to miss Schlotti terribly on the pitch as an outstanding defender, and especially for his excellent build-up play. It could have been his World Cup," said coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger is likely to take Schlotterbeck's place in the starting XI for the final Group C match against Ecuador on Thursday, having replaced him at half-time in Toronto.
Other centre-backs in the squad include Schlotterbeck’s Dortmund teammate Waldemar Anton and Malick Thiaw, with Germany already assured of top spot in the group after the wins over Curaçao and Ivory Coast.
The injury is the third to hit Germany in recent weeks, with Bayern Munich youngster Lennart Karl having been hurt in training before the first game and his teammate Serge Gnabry also being ruled out before the tournament.
Nagelsmann will be unable to replace Schlotterbeck in the squad, as FIFA rules state that only goalkeepers can be called up during the tournament.
Schlotterbeck suffered the injury with just a quarter of an hour played against Ivory Coast, but remained on the pitch for the entire half after receiving treatment.
Nagelsmann praised the centre-back for his resilience, but said after the game that he was due to receive an MRI, which confirmed the injury on Monday.
"He’s a very positive chap who’s already looking ahead," said Nagelsmann. Schlotterbeck is expected to remain at Germany's World Cup base in North Carolina, the manager said. "It’s a nice sign that he’s staying here with the squad for the time being, because he also has an influence off the pitch."
After rising through the ranks at Freiburg, Schlotterbeck joined Dortmund in 2022 and earned his first cap in the same year.
He has made 29 appearances for Germany, scoring his first goal in the 7-1 win over Curaçao.
