Germany Lose Nico Schlotterbeck for Rest of World Cup

23 Jun 2026

Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with an ankle injury. The setback removes an important defensive option at a stage of the tournament where squad depth becomes increasingly important. Germany will now need to adjust their back line and manage the physical demands of the knockout rounds without him. The injury also places extra pressure on the remaining defenders to stay fit and disciplined.