Germany reserve midfielder Traesch to miss World Cup with ankle injury

Germany midfielder Traesch out of World Cup

FRANKFURT, Germany — Germany backup midfielder Christian Traesch will miss the World Cup after injuring his right ankle in a training game against a local selection in northern Italy in another blow for the three-time champions.

Germany has been hit by a series of injuries that have taken out captain Michael Ballack and designated No. 1 goalkeeper Rene Adler, among others, from the upcoming tournament in South Africa.

“Christian Traesch won’t be available for the World Cup and we regret this very much,” assistant coach Hans-Dieter Flick told a news conference Tuesday at Germany’s training camp in northern Italy.

Traesch twisted his ankle without contact with another player and will need at least a four-week rest.

Germany won 4-0 against a local selection from South Tirol, a German speaking area in northern Italy. The game was played over two 30-minute halves on Monday.

Germany coach Joachim Loew has two extra players in his squad, who will have to be cut before the June 1 deadline. He also has to select his captain for the World Cup after Ballack’s injury.

The seven players from Bayern Munich, which lost the Champions League final 2-0 against Inter Milan on Saturday, were joining the squad Tuesday and Wednesday.

Germany plays in Hungary on Saturday and then hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 3 in its last two warmup games before traveling to the World Cup.

(This version CORRECTS UPDATES with details, background, corrects day of friendly.)