Rib injury forces German keeper Adler to miss World Cup

Accra, May 04, GNA - Germany has suffered a double injury-blow after it was confirmed goalkeeper Rene Adler and midfielder Simon Rolfes will miss the 2010 World Cup, South Africa with injuries. First-choice goalkeeper Adler has been told he needs surgery on a rib injury he suffered last month.

Information gathered by GNA Sports from BBC Sports said his Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Rolfes is also out following knee surgery. Germany are in World Cup group D alongside Ghana, Australia and Serbia. Adler said it was the toughest decision of his life as he could feasibly have played at the World Cup, albeit not to the best of his ability. "The pain is so great that I would not have been able to perform at my best over the longer term both in training and during matches," he said. "In such a long and intensive tournament, that is unacceptable. You need players who are totally fit." Adler made a comeback for his club in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin, but a post-match check revealed the injury was worse than first feared.

The 25-year-old has a history of rib problems, having nearly had his career ended by a complicated injury in 2006 which needed a titanium plate and four screws to repair it.

Robert Enke, who was Germany's number one in early 2009, committed suicide last November and in Adler's absence Manuel Neuer and Tim Wiese will be in competition for the starting place, Germans coach Joachim Loew will announce a preliminary 30-man squad on Thursday, and if he opts for a third goalkeeper, Bayern Munich veteran Hans-Joerg Butt could be in line for a surprise recall, nearly seven years after winning the last of his three caps.

The absence of Rolfes was more widely anticipated, as he had not played since undergoing knee cartilage surgery in January. "Simon's decision is the only right one for optimal recovery," said Loew.

"We are sad that he had to pull out but wish him a speedy recovery."