Injury Update - Lars Bender Out of World Cup

Germany's training squad has been reduced to 26 members after injury forces another player out of the preliminary squad. Germany and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender has become the latest victim to injuries that plagued the German squad throughout the season. He picked up a muscle and tendon injury in his right thigh during training

Meanwhile Bastian Schweinsteiger has been declared 100% fit for the tourney but he's yet to join the training sessions. Captain Philipp Lahm and first choice goalkeeper Manuel Meuer are still days away from full recovery from their end of the season injuries. Striker Miroslav Klose is also in a race with time to get fit for the tourney while Sami Khedira has recently returned from a long injury

Bender's twin brother Sven failed to make it to the squad due to an injury too, so are Mario Gomez and Ilkay Gundogan