Overview
- Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck suffered the injury during the team’s Group E match against Ivory Coast on Saturday and was substituted at half-time.
- Team scans at the Germany base in Winston-Salem confirmed a tear to the medial ligament in his left ankle and the DFB says he will be sidelined for several months.
- Because the tournament is under way Germany cannot call up a replacement, so coach Julian Nagelsmann must use Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rüdiger, Waldemar Anton and Malick Thiaw to cover minutes.
- Antonio Rüdiger replaced Schlotterbeck at half-time in Toronto and is expected to take a starting spot, but Schlotterbeck’s left-footed, ball-playing role will be hard to replicate.
- The injury ends Schlotterbeck’s World Cup and will affect Borussia Dortmund’s preseason plans and any summer transfer interest while he begins a multi-month rehab; he will remain with the Germany squad for now.