Nico Schlotterbeck ruled out of World Cup due to injury

German national team defender Nico Schlotterbeck will miss the remainder of the World Cup due to a medial collateral ligament rupture. The 25-year-old Borussia Dortmund player sustained the injury during the second group stage match against Ivory Coast, leading to his substitution at halftime. Medical examinations confirmed the severity of the injury, with an expected recovery period of six to eight weeks. Schlotterbeck had started in both of Germany's opening matches, including a goal-scoring performance against Curacao. National team manager Julian Nagelsmann faces a significant selection challenge following the confirmation of the player's absence. The recovery timeline also implies that Schlotterbeck will likely miss the initial training phase for his club team. The defender has 29 caps for Germany and an estimated market value of 55 million euros.