German star Reus out injured

Germany’s World Cup hopes suffered a severe blow when midfielder Marco Reus was ruled out of the tournament due to an ankle injury sustained in their final warmup game.

Germany leave for Brazil with 22-year-old Sampdoria defender Shkodran Mustafi booking an unexpected last-minute ticket following Reus’s injury.

Reus turned his ankle shortly before the break in their 6-1 victory over Armenia 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.”

Germany’s lightening midfielder

The lightning-quick Reus, who enjoyed a superb season at Borussia 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.”

Germany take on Ghana, Portugal and United States in Group G,