/ 7 June 2014

A Reus blow to Germany’s World Cup hopes

Defence lawyer Courtenay Griffiths has fought against racism all his life.
Defence lawyer Courtenay Griffiths has fought against racism all his life.

Germany, who take on Ghana, Portugal and United States in Group G, leave for Brazil on Saturday evening with 22-year-old Sampdoria defender Shkodran Mustafi booking an unexpected last-minute ticket following Reus’s injury.

“I do not have the words to describe what I am feeling at the moment,” Reus said in a statement issued by his club Borussia Dortmund.

“A dream burst in just one second and now I need to look forward, be professional about my recovery because I have to keep going. I will come back stronger than before.

“My best wishes to the whole team to achieve our goal without me.”

Reus, who scored 16 goals in the Bundesliga last season, most by any midfielder, turned his ankle shortly before the break in their 6-1 victory over Armenia on Friday in Mainz, partially tearing the anterior ligament above his left ankle on the eve of the team’s departure for Brazil.

“Both for him and for us it is extremely bitter,” coach Joachim Loew told reporters. “Marco was in top form and both in the training camp and in the friendlies against Cameroon and Armenia left an outstanding impression.

“He had played a central role in our planning for Brazil.”

The lightning-quick Reus, who enjoyed a superb season at Dortmund, was seen as a key player in Germany’s quest to claim their first international title in 18 years.

Mustafi, who won his only cap in May against Poland, was surprisingly part of the provisional squad but missed the cut as one of three players omitted from the final squad earlier this week.

“It was not about replacing Marco Reus in the same position,” Loew added. “We have a lot of quality in that position and a lot of options with Lukas Podolski, Andre Schuerrle, Mario Goetze, Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil, Julian Draxler and Toni Kroos.

“That is why we decided for an option in defence and Shkodran had been convincing in our training camp, he is fit and we have full confidence in him.” – Reuters