Officially.. End of Schlotterbeck's Journey in the World Cup Due to Injury

The German Football Association announced in an official statement that defender Nico Schlotterbeck will miss the rest of the 2026 World Cup matches after sustaining an injury during his country's match against Ivory Coast in the second round of the group stage.

The federation clarified that medical examinations confirmed the player suffered a tear in the ligaments of his left ankle, which will force him to be absent for several months, ending his journey in the tournament prematurely.

Despite the injury, it was decided that Schlotterbeck would remain with the German national team delegation in the United States during the current period, to support his teammates in the camp.

For his part, coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed his regret over the player's absence, saying: "We will miss Schlotterbeck a lot on the field, as he is a distinguished defender with great abilities in play-building, and this World Cup could have been his tournament."

He added, "We tried to lift his spirits. He is a very positive person who always looks forward, and having him with us is important because he also has an impact off the field."

Nagelsmann concluded that the German national team has strong defensive options despite the absence of Schlotterbeck, with the presence of Antonio Rüdiger, Jonathan Tah, Waldemar Anton, and Malick Thiaw, noting that the team is still ready to continue its journey in the tournament.