Germany's defense is in crisis! A €55 million center-back reportedly suffered a ligament tear, potentially missing the World Cup; coach says "not optimistic".

In the second round of World Cup Group E, played on June 21 Beijing time, Germany overcame Ivory Coast 2-1, earning an early spot in the knockout stage. Yet despite the milestone of reaching the World Cup's knockout phase for the first time in 12 years, the injury to backline mainstay Schlotterbeck, aged 26, has cast a shadow over the team's excitement.

In this match, the €55 million-rated defender continued to partner Jonathan Tah in central defense. However, just 13 minutes into the game, Schlotterbeck twisted his left ankle during a challenge with Amad, and had to grit his teeth after receiving ice treatment.

During the first water break, he received further treatment, and signals for a substitution were given from the sideline. To conserve substitution slots, Schlotterbeck stayed on until halftime, when he was replaced by Rüdiger. Before leaving the pitch, he even made a crucial clearance in stoppage time, delivering an excellent performance.

After the match, Germany's young coach Julian Nagelsmann immediately shared his concerns about the player's injury, saying worriedly: "Schlotterbeck has an issue with the medial collateral ligament of his knee. He will have an MRI tomorrow. The situation looks really not ideal, not optimistic, and it's truly regrettable."

According to the latest news from German media, Schlotterbeck will undergo an MRI scan upon returning to the team's base camp. If diagnosed with a ligament tear, his World Cup journey may come to an end.

It is worth noting that Schlotterbeck suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee about 14 months ago. If he is forced to leave this World Cup early, it would be a significant loss for the German team.

After all, the center-back partnership he formed with Jonathan Tah has remained unbeaten in 14 national team matches. In the group stage opener, a 7-1 thrashing of Curaçao, Schlotterbeck even scored a goal.