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Germany's Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 World Cup following an injury suffered during the dramatic 2–1 comeback victory against Côte d'Ivoire on Saturday.
The 25-year-old started the tournament as a regular in Julian Nagelsmann's lineup and featured in both of Germany's opening two Group E fixtures. However, he was substituted at the interval in the match against Côte d'Ivoire after rolling his ankle early in the contest.
The German Football Association (DFB) has since confirmed that Schlotterbeck "suffered medial ligament damage to his left ankle" and "will be sidelined for several months".
Despite the setback, the Borussia Dortmund centre-back will continue to travel with the German squad in the United States as the competition unfolds.
"We'll miss Schlotti enormously on the pitch," Nagelsmann said of his stricken player.
"He's a top-class defender and his ability to build play from the back is exceptional. He could have made a huge impact at this World Cup. We all tried to boost his morale yesterday and thankfully, he's a very upbeat person who is already focused on what lies ahead. The fact that he's staying here with the group for now is a wonderful gesture, as he also has an influence off the pitch.
"Despite losing him, we're still very well covered at centre-back for the World Cup with Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rüdiger, Waldemar Anton and Malick Thiaw."
Who Could Replace Schlotterbeck for Germany?
Stepping into Schlotterbeck's role at the core of Germany's backline will be no easy task. The Dortmund defender impressed in Germany's commanding 7–1 thrashing of Curaçao, even contributing a headed goal from a corner kick.
Before picking up his injury, he had cemented himself as a pivotal figure under Nagelsmann, thanks to his athleticism, passing range and composure in possession.
With the tournament already in progress, Germany is not allowed to bring in any replacements to its World Cup squad and will need to navigate the rest of the competition with 25 players. Nevertheless, Nagelsmann has options heading into the final Group E fixture against Ecuador.
Schlotterbeck was replaced by Real Madrid's Rüdiger at the break, and the 33-year-old appears well-positioned to continue alongside Jonathan Tah in Germany's defence this summer.
While Rüdiger may not match Schlotterbeck's technical quality, he is a vastly experienced defender and an imposing physical force.
As Nagelsmann noted, he can also turn to Anton (Dortmund) and Malick Thiaw (Newcastle). The latter may be the closest like-for-like alternative as a ball-playing centre-back, though the 24-year-old is considerably less experienced, having earned just five senior international caps.
What Next for Germany?
Nagelsmann's squad has already booked their place in the last 32 as Group E winners, and the coach can afford to rotate and experiment when they face Ecuador on Thursday, June 25.
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After the group stage concludes, Germany will then take on one of the best third-placed teams in their round of 32 knockout tie in Foxborough on Monday, June 29.