Nico Schlotterbeck leaves Germany squad after right ankle injury in training

Training ground collision in Herzogenaurach

Germany central defender Nico Schlotterbeck suffered a right ankle injury during the national team's final training session in Herzogenaurach on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. The incident occurred during a warm-up competition drill where players navigated slaloms around plastic dummies in four separate groups. Schlotterbeck lost control of the ball while dribbling and collided directly with VfB Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch. The 26-year-old fell to the turf and immediately gripped his right ankle. Several teammates initially laughed before recognizing the severity of the collision. Head coach Jürgen Klopp and team doctor Dr. Jochen Hahne ran onto the pitch to assist the defender, who was forced to abandon the session and travel directly to an MRI scan.

Diagnosis and squad withdrawal

Medical examinations confirmed that Schlotterbeck sustained damage to the lateral ligaments of his right ankle. Although the Borussia Dortmund defender travelled with the squad to Munich on Wednesday afternoon, the German Football Association (DFB) confirmed he will return to Dortmund on Thursday. The injury rules Schlotterbeck out of Thursday's match against Serbia at the Allianz Arena (20:45 CET, broadcast on ZDF) as well as Sunday's fixture against Greece. The withdrawal disrupts Germany's defensive setup, where Schlotterbeck was considered a primary candidate to wear the captain's armband against Serbia because Joshua Kimmich is not part of the squad for the second week.

Recurring fitness setbacks for club and country

The ankle problem arrives two weeks after Schlotterbeck completed a return from a previous long-term layoff. During the summer World Cup in Toronto, the defender tore the medial ligament in his left ankle during Germany's second group match against Ivory Coast, an injury that sidelined him for several months. Schlotterbeck returned to action in mid-September, appearing in two competitive fixtures for Borussia Dortmund before starting in Germany's 1-1 draw against the Netherlands. His latest absence expands the national team's injury list to three key starters, joining attackers Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz, who both sustained muscle injuries around the Netherlands fixture and departed the training camp early.

Nations League standings and match preparations

Germany enters Thursday's match against Serbia under pressure in the UEFA Nations League group phase, sitting in third place with one point after two matches. The team drew 1-1 with the Netherlands before losing 0-1 to Greece in their opening fixtures under Klopp. Group leaders Greece (six points) host second-placed Netherlands (four points) on Thursday, while Serbia sits bottom with zero points. Klopp completed Wednesday's session with the remaining 24 players. UEFA regulations restrict matchday squads to 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers, meaning one additional player must be omitted. Goalkeeper Jonas Urbig is scheduled to make his senior national debut in Munich, in the first Germany home match during Munich Oktoberfest since 1982. Klopp and Urbig will outline their match plans in a press conference at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening.