WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (AP) 鈥� Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup and beyond with a left ankle injury sustained during Saturday鈥檚 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.
Tests on Sunday back at the team camp in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, revealed Schlotterbeck, who had started both of 骋别谤尘补苍测鈥檚 opening games in the tournament, sustained an injury to the medial ligament in his ankle and will be out for several months, the German soccer federation said Monday.
鈥淲e will sorely miss Schlotti on the field as an outstanding defender, especially also his brilliant ability to build up play from the back,鈥� Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said. 鈥淚t could have been his World Cup. We all tried to lift his spirits yesterday. Luckily, he鈥檚 a very positive person who鈥檚 already looking ahead.鈥�
Schlotterbeck, who plays for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, was to stay with the Germany squad for the rest of the World Cup.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great sign that he鈥檚 staying with the squad for now, as he has an impact off the field as well,鈥� Nagelsmann said. 鈥淒espite his absence, we鈥檙e still very well-equipped at center-back for the World Cup with Jonathan Tah, Antonio R眉diger, Waldemar Anton, and Malick Thiaw.鈥�
骋别谤尘补苍测鈥檚 put the four-time champion into the knockout stage with a group game to spare. Germany is already assured of top spot in Group E before its final group game against Ecuador in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday.
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