This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/07/marco-reus-doubt-world-cup-germany

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Marco Reus ruled out of World Cup for Germany after ankle injury Marco Reus ruled out of World Cup for Germany after ankle injury
(34 minutes later)
Germany’s attacking midfielder Marco Reus has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a partial tear of his left ankle ligament in their final warmup against Armenia – a 6-1 victory on Friday. Germany’s World Cup hopes suffered a severe blow on Saturday when midfielder Marco Reus was ruled out of the tournament with an ankle injury sustained in their final warmup game.
Germany confirmed that Sampdoria’s Shkodran Mustafi will replace Reus in the squad that travels to Brazil on Saturday evening. Reus turned his ankle shortly before the break in Mainz and was taken to hospital where his injury was diagnosed. “He suffered a partial tear of his anterior ligament above his left ankle,” Germany said in a statement. Germany, who take on Ghana, Portugal and United States in Group G, leave for Brazil on Saturday evening with 22-year-old Sampdoria defender Shkodran Mustafi receiving an unexpected last-minute call-up following Reus’s injury.
Germany take on Ghana, Portugal and United States in Group G and the lightning-quick Reus, who enjoyed a superb season at Dortmund, was seen as a key player in Germany’s bid to claim their first international title in 18 years. Reus turned his ankle shortly before the break in their 6-1 victory over Armenia on Friday in Mainz, partially tearing the anterior ligament above his left ankle on the eve of the team’s departure for Brazil.
Mustafi, a defender, was part of the provisional squad but missed the cut as one of three players omitted from the final squad announced this week. “Both for him and for us it is extremely bitter,” coach Joachim Loew told reporters. “Marco was in top form and both in the training camp and in the friendlies against Cameroon and Armenia left an outstanding impression. He had played a central role in our planning for Brazil.“
Reus, who enjoyed a superb season at Borussia Dortmund, was seen as a key player in Germany’s quest to claim their first international title in 18 years.
Mustafi, who won his only cap in May against Poland, was surprisingly part of the provisional squad but missed the cut as one of three players omitted from the final squad earlier this week.
“It was not about replacing Marco Reus in the same position,” Loew added. “We have a lot of quality in that position and a lot of options with Lukas Podolski, Andre Schuerrle, Mario Goetze, Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil, Julian Draxler and Toni Kroos. That is why we decided for an option in defence and Shkodran had been convincing in our training camp, he is fit and we have full confidence in him.”