German winger cut from squad for Europe’s premier competition on his 27th birthday yesterday; coach Joachim Loew says he has massive health problems
Down and out: Borussia Dortmund striker Marco Reus is left frustrated after suffering an injury during a Bundesliga match against FC Cologne in Dortmund recently
Ascona (Switzerland): Marco Reus endured more injury heartache with Germany yesterday — his 27th birthday — as he was cut from their final Euro 2016 squad, two years after missing the World Cup.
Down and out: Borussia Dortmund striker Marco Reus is left frustrated after suffering an injury during a Bundesliga match against FC Cologne in Dortmund recently. Pic/AFP
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A groin injury means Reus joins Julian Brandt, Sebastian Rudy and Karim Bellarabi, all dropped as Germany announced their final 23-man squad, with injured captain Bastian Schweinsteiger (knee ligaments) being included.
Reus, Borussia Dortmund's fleet-footed winger, missed out on Germany's 2014 World Cup win after tearing ankle ligaments in a warm-up friendly international just before the squad flew to Brazil.
Now an injury on club duty has scuppered his bid to be fit for the finals in France and the chance to add to his 29 caps.
The timing was especially bitter for the Dortmund star, who was flooded by birthday wishes in the morning, only for Germany coach Joachim Loew to announce in the early afternoon that Reus' Euro 2016 dream is over.
Loew explained: “He (Reus) has massive health problems and can only run straight at the moment. Doctors were sceptical that he'd fit soon. It's bitterly disappointing for him and us, because if in very good shape, healthy and fit, he would have been a great asset for us.”
Loew though has included both Borussia Dortmund's Bayern Munich-bound centre-back Mats Hummels and Manchester United midfielder Schweinsteiger even though both are carrying injuries.
Schweinsteiger picked
“The medical department have confirmed that Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mats Hummels will be fit to play at the tournament,” said Loew.
Reus' former Dortmund teammate Mario Goetze, whose goal won the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina, had initially wished him on Twitter: “Happy Birthday! I'm looking forward to our next tournament together.”
But he later quickly deleted the tweet, replacing it with: “Happy Birthday, Marco, but we are all really sad. Unbelievable. That hurts me.” Midfielder Sami Khedira said: “I'm confident he will get his chance on the big stage,” but the news must hurt Reus.
After tearing ankle ligaments two years ago, he turned down an offer from the German FA to fly him to the 2014 World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro when the team carried a Germany shirt with his name and squad number on the back during the celebrations.
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