Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck to miss remainder of World Cup with ankle injury

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/schlotterbeck-nico/hKLN8mA7/"]Schlotterbeck[/a], a starting centre-back, was injured ‌early in the game and was replaced at ‌halftime by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rudiger-antonio/rZHXvTho/"]Antonio Rudiger[/a]. A scan on Sunday revealed the player had torn a ligament in his left ‌ankle.[/p][p]"[b]Schlotterbeck suffered an injury to the ⁠medial collateral ligament in ‌his left ankle ... and will be out for several ​months. The defender of German runners-up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dortmund/nP1i5US1/"]Borussia Dortmund[/a] will, for the time being, remain ​with the team in the USA[/b]," the team said in a statement.[/p][embed guid="2d5f6c61-eaf6-43ef-a3f3-b6a9666ac1f1" url="https://x.com/BVB/status/2069030060103733552" social-type="twitter" /][p]Coach Julian Nagelsmann can no longer ⁠call up a ​player to replace him, with the tournament already underway.[/p][p]“[b]Schlotti will be greatly missed on the pitch as an outstanding defender, especially his excellent build-up ‌play[/b]," Nagelsmann said. "[b]It could have been his World Cup. Yesterday, we all tried to lift his spirits – fortunately, he is a very positive character who is already looking ahead again[/b]."[/p][p]"[b]It is a very positive sign that he will initially remain here within the team, because he also has an influence off the pitch. Despite his absence, we ‌are still very well positioned in central defence ​for the World Cup with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tah-jonathan/2yf8EcuE/"]Jonathan Tah[/a], Antonio ‌Rudiger, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anton-waldemar/b3gqj94D/"]Waldemar Anton[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thiaw-malick/0vSsR1xI/"]Malick Thiaw[/a][/b]," the coach said.[/p][p]The Germans, who have secured top spot in their group and have already advanced to the knockout stage for the first time ⁠in 12 years, face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ecuador/8tbm8Tri/"]⁠Ecuador[/a] in their ‌[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ecuador-8tbm8Tri/germany-ptQide1O/?mid=zmvgtcCa"]final group match on Thursday[/a].[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]