The German national football team is facing some challenges in central defense as they head into the knockout phase. The injury of Antonio Rüdiger has forced him to leave the match against Switzerland (1:1). National coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed his hope that Rüdiger’s injury is not serious, but no details have been released about the extent of the issue.
If Rüdiger is unable to play in the round of 16 in Dortmund, it would be a significant loss for the team as his teammate Jonathan Tah will also be missing due to a yellow card suspension. Nagelsmann mentioned that they have other options available, including Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton, who are ready to step in. Robin Koch is also part of the DFB squad and could potentially fill in the gap.
Throughout the three preliminary round matches, Nagelsmann stuck with the same formation each time. However, with the potential absence of Rüdiger, there may be at least one change to the lineup in the upcoming match in Dortmund. Despite Rüdiger’s injury, he was still able to celebrate Niclas Füllkrug’s late equalizer, showing his dedication to the team before being taken off the field after the final whistle.
