Germany defender Sarai Linder will miss the European Championship semi-final against Spain on Wednesday with a left ankle ligament injury.
Linder, 25, was forced off in the 20th minute of Germany’s dramatic quarter-final win over France on Saturday which went to a sudden death penalty shootout. Fourth-choice right-back Sophia Kleinherne replaced her.
Germany’s regular starting right-back and captain Giulia Gwinn was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury in their opening group-stage victory over Poland.
Backup right-back Carlotta Wamser was suspended for the quarter-final following a red card in their final group-stage 4-1 defeat to Sweden. Now Linder will be absent but Wamser will return from her suspension to play Spain.
Linder sustained the injury against France on Saturday (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Meanwhile Chelsea’s Sjoeke Nusken will also miss the semi-final after she received a yellow card in the group stage and the quarter-final while Kathrin Hendrich’s red card for pulling France captain Griege Mbock’s hair rules her out too.
The door remains open for Linder to recover in time for Sunday’s final should Germany beat Spain.
Germany kick-off against Spain on Wednesday in Zurich while England play Italy on Tuesday in Geneva.
(Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)