Germany’s FIFA World Cup campaign has been dealt a setback after defender Nico Schlotterbeck was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament following an ankle ligament injury sustained in the team’s 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.
The Borussia Dortmund centre-back featured in Germany’s opening 7-1 win over Curaçao and started again in the hard-fought clash against Ivory Coast, but was forced off at half-time after appearing to pick up the injury late in the first half.
Medical assessments later confirmed the extent of the damage. According to reports from Sky Germany, an MRI scan carried out on Sunday revealed a torn medial collateral ligament in his left ankle.
The injury is expected to sideline the defender for at least two months, effectively ending his involvement in the tournament.
Schlotterbeck’s absence is seen as a significant loss for Germany’s defensive setup as coach Julian Nagelsmann prepares adjustments ahead of their next group match against Ecuador on June 25.
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger is now expected to step into the starting role as Germany reshapes its backline in response to the setback.
