Rudiger injured celebrating Fullkrug's goal worries Nagelsmann

Germany defender Antonio Rudiger ended the match against Switzerland with muscular problems and sparked alarm in his national team, which could lose a key player in the centre of defence pending the results of the medical tests to which the Real Madrid player will be subjected.

Rudiger was injured while celebrating Niclas Fullkrug's 92nd-minute header to equalise against Switzerland and secure Germany's place at the top of Group A. The German defender was one of the first to catch up with his team-mate to celebrate the goal and, after the rest of the players had pounced on both, he remained on the ground. At the end of the match, he kept touching his right thigh a clear sign of muscular problems.

His coach, Julian Nagelsmann, expressed his concern about one of his first-choice centre-backs at a press conference: "He finished the game with a small thigh problem. I hope it's nothing serious. We'll see. It could be quite problematic," he said.

The reality is that Germany already have one notable absentee for the Round of 16 clash, and it also affects the centre of defence. Jonathan Tah will miss the game through suspension after picking up his second yellow card and Rudiger could join him as the second absentee in the German backline. Just in case, Nico Schlotterbeck, Robin Koch and Waldemar Anton are ready to fill in for Nagelsmann's two first-choice players.

 

June 24, 2024