Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out of the FIFA World Cup after suffering a torn medial ligament in his left ankle, which will sideline him for at least eight weeks.
The injury happened during Germany’s second group-stage match against Ivory Coast. Although he initially continued playing after twisting his ankle in a challenge, he was eventually substituted at halftime.
Subsequent MRI scans confirmed the severity of the damage, revealing a torn medial ligament that will require a recovery period of around two months.
With the tournament already in progress, Germany are unable to replace the injured defender in their squad, leaving the team short at the back for the remainder of the competition.