Schlotterbeck ligament injury raises Germany concerns ahead of World Cup knockout stages

Germany secured qualification for the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, but at the price of serious concern: central defender Nico Schlotterbeck left the pitch at half-time of the narrow 2-1 victory against Ivory Coast on Saturday with an internal knee ligament injury.

Injured early in the match, the Borussia Dortmund player attempted to continue despite the pain before giving way to Antonio Rüdiger at the break. After the final whistle, head coach Julian Nagelsmann made no attempt to downplay the situation. “He has something with his internal ligament. He will have an MRI tomorrow. Honestly, it unfortunately does not look very good,” he told German media.

The results of the medical imaging, expected on Sunday, will reveal whether Schlotterbeck can hope to play again in this tournament. A prolonged absence would deprive the Mannschaft of one of its starting central defenders at the moment when the competition enters its decisive phase.

Germany had approached this second group match with confidence, buoyed by its emphatic 7-1 opening victory over Curaçao. Against the Elephants, victory came by the narrowest of margins, but it was enough to secure qualification. Germany’s path forward — and a possible meeting with France in the knockout phase — will now unfold with or without one of its defensive cornerstones.