Germany's Schlotterbeck Out of World Cup with Ankle Injury

Germany's Schlotterbeck Out of World Cup with Ankle Injury

The devastating news for the German national team: Nico Schlotterbeck, their talented 26-year-old defender, is out of the World Cup after injuring a left-ankle ligament during their 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in Toronto on Saturday. Schlotterbeck, who scored the second goal in Germany's 7-1 win over Curacao in their group opener, will be sidelined for several months due to the injury.

The exact timing of his return to the pitch is still unclear, but it's likely that he'll miss the start of the upcoming season. Borussia Dortmund, his club, face Bayern Munich on August 22 and their league campaign begins the following weekend. The team will be keen to get Schlotterbeck back on the pitch as soon as possible, especially after losing him to injury just when they needed him most.

Coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed his disappointment at Schlotterbeck's injury, saying, 'We'll really miss Schlotti on the field as an outstanding defender, especially his excellent build-up play.' He praised Schlotterbeck's positive attitude, saying that he's already looking ahead despite the injury.

The German Football Association (DFB) announced the news, stating, 'We all tried to cheer him up yesterday — luckily, he's a very positive guy who's already looking ahead.' They confirmed that Schlotterbeck will remain with the team in the US for the time being, and that the team is still well-placed in central defense with other talented players like Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rüdiger, Waldemar Anton, and Malick Thiaw.

Borussia Dortmund's sporting director, Lars Ricken, expressed his sympathy for Schlotterbeck, saying, 'I feel extremely sorry for Nico; he was in really good form and an indispensable part of our national team's starting line-up.' He expressed his hope that Schlotterbeck will make a strong comeback after recovering from his injury.

Nico Schlotterbeck is an important player for both Borussia Dortmund and the German national team, and his injury will come as a significant blow to both teams. However, it's a testament to his resilience and character that he's already looking ahead despite the setback.