Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after suffering an ankle ligament injury, according to multiple reports.
The Borussia Dortmund centre-back has started both of Germany’s games so far at the tournament, but was substituted after half-time of Saturday’s 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.
And he now faces eight weeks on the sideline after reportedly sustaining a torn ligament in his ankle.
How will Germany replace Schlotterbeck?
Schlotterbeck had been a first-choice centre-back for coach Julian Nagelsmann, who had selected him alongside Jonathan Tah for the games with Curacao and Ivory Coast.
Antonio Rudiger replaced Schlotterbeck in the latter game, and the Real Madrid defender will be the favourite to start alongside Tah going forward.
However, as Germany have already won Group E, their group stage game with Ecuador is meaningless for Die Mannschaft.
As such, Nagelsmann has the chance to assess other options, with Schlotterbeck’s Borussia Dortmund team-mate Waldemar Anton and Newcastle United’s Malick Thiaw the other centre-backs in the Germany squad.
Having already played two games, Germany cannot call up a replacement in the squad for Schlotterbeck.
As it stands, Germany are scheduled to face Scotland in the round of 32, though the final round of group games may change their opponent.
That contest will be Germany’s first knockout game since the victory in the 2014 final, with Die Mannschaft having exited the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in the group stage. It will be the first knockout game of the tournament and take place in Foxborough on June 29.
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