Germany midfielder Christian Trasch has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a sprained ankle.
Midfielder told to rest for four weeks after spraining ankle
Germany's World Cup preparations have met with another setback after Christian Trasch was ruled out of the tournament due to an ankle injury.
Captain Michael Ballack is already missing with an ankle complaint and goalkeeper Rene Adler is out of the squad, with Trasch now joining his team-mates on the sidelines.
The Stuttgart midfielder sprained his ankle in the early stages of a friendly win over FC Sudtirol on Monday and has been told to rest the injury for four weeks.
Joachim Low is not planning to call up a replacement for Trasch, who was due to be part of the final 23-man squad, according to assistant coach Hans-Dieter Flick.
Disappointing
Flick said: "Christian Trasch will not be available for us at the World Cup.
"It's disappointing news as Christian would have been in our final squad.
"No, there will not be another nomination. There are several options, though they have narrowed down a bit. Dennis Aogo has played that position as has Heiko Westermann."
With coach Low due to finalise his 23-man squad by 1st June, Flick is hoping the team's World Cup plans do not suffer any further damage.
He added: "With Rene Adler, Michael Ballack and Christian Trasch there are three players who would have been in that 23-man squad.
"I think we have been punished enough and that all will be fine from now on.
"As a coach you cannot choose when the injuries will occur. We have to live with that. We have a large group and players who can play various positions."
