Germany's Nico Schlotterbeck out for rest of World Cup with ankle injury

Germany's hopes of winning the 2026 World Cup have suffered a blow.

Center back Nico Schlotterbeck will miss the rest of the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury in the European team's win over the Ivory Coast.

Schlotterbeck received medical attention in the 14th minute of the match but was able to play on until halftime, when he was replaced by Antonio Rudiger.

Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann gave a negative prognosis after the match.

"Nico sustained an injury to the medial ligament of his left ankle during Saturday's 2-1 win against Ivory Coast and will be sidelined for several months," the team statement read.

The 33-year-old Rudiger is a natural replacement in the starting XI, but Schlotterbeck may be Germany's best defender and is certainly their best left-footed member of the back line.

The blow comes weeks after Germany also lost promising young attacker Lennart Karl for the tournament after he suffered a muscle injury in a training session before the team's final pre-World Cup friendly.

Prior to the win over the Ivory Coast, Germany beat Curacao by a 7-1 scoreline. Those results, combined with Curacao's 0-0 draw with Ecuador, mean the Germans already have clinched not only their first place in the knockout round since winning the 2014 competition but also have won Group E.

They close group play June 25 against Ecuador.