German FIFA World Cup the campaign suffered a major setback as defender Nico Schlotterbeck was ruled out for the rest of the tournament after suffering a serious ankle injury.The Borussia Dortmund centre-back picked up the injury during Germany’s 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, forcing coach Julian Nagelsmann to rethink his defensive plans just as the competition enters the knockout stages.Schlotterbeck first tried to continue after being treated during the game, but the discomfort proved too much. He was eventually withdrawn at half-time as concerns grew about the scale of the problem.Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging confirmed damage to the medial ligament in the left ankle. The defender is expected to be sidelined for around two months with the injury, effectively ending his participation at the World Cup and dashing any hopes of a return later in the tournament.The news comes as a significant blow for Germany, as Schlotterbeck has proven to be one of the team’s most important players during the group stage. His partnership with Jonathan Tah provided stability at the back, while his ability to play out of defense and operate comfortably on the left made him a vital component of Nagelsmann’s tactical approach.Although Germany secured all three points against Ivory Coast thanks to Deniz Undav’s goal, Schlotterbeck’s injury overshadowed the win and raised new concerns ahead of the knockout rounds.His absence will likely pave the way for Antonio Rudiger to return to the starting line-up. The Real Madrid defender replaced Schlotterbeck after the break and now looks set to regain a regular place in the team. Rudiger previously lost his place after his own injury, and the Schlotterbeck-Tah combination became Germany’s favorite central defensive pairing.With the knockout stages approaching, Germany must now move forward without one of their defensive leaders as they continue their quest for World Cup glory.
