More headaches for Germany just a month before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa kicks off, and less than a week before the deadline for the initial team roster selection expires. René Adler of Bayer Leverkusen was supposed to be Germany’s starting goalkeeper during the World Cup, but the player got injured again this weekend and will be definitely missing the upcoming tournament this summer.
“The pain is too much and I will not be able to participate during the team’s preparation period or the 2010 World Cup,” says Adler. “In a big competition like the World Cup this is simply unacceptable, Germany needs players that are 100% healthy and I’m really not there right now.” René Adler’s injury in the ribcage started almost 2 weeks ago, but the player decided to tough it out and keep playing all the way until the World Cup kicks off. But in the previous game with his club Bayer Leverkusen he got injured again at the exact same spot, and this time it is even more serious.
Another Bayer Leverkusen player will also be missing the 2010 World Cup for Germany. Simon Rolfes injury is not new, the defensive midfielder has been out since January, but now it became official that he will be unable to follow Germany in South Africa this summer. German coach Joachim Löw is now looking into different options to replace both players, with René Adler and the goalkeeper position giving him the biggest headache.
