Jerome Boateng to 'fight' for World Cup place after season-ending injury
Jerome Boateng's Bayern Munich season is over after he sustained a thigh injury, but the defender is going to "fight" to be fit for Germany's World Cup defence.
The former Manchester City man suffered the problem in the first half of Bayern's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday, forcing his withdrawal in the 34th minute.
Boateng is reported to be facing between four and six weeks out as a result, with Germany's first World Cup game taking place on June 17 against Mexico in Moscow.
Taking to his official Twitter account, Boateng wrote: "Life is full of setbacks. Live, feel, love, laugh, cry, play, win, lose, stumble, fall, but stand up again and again. Now it is time to fight to be in Russia. I'll give it [my] all.
Das Leben ist voller Rückschläge. Lebe, fühle, liebe, lache, weine, spiele, gewinne, verliere, stolpere, falle, aber stehe immer wieder auf Jetzt heißt es kämpfen, um in Russland dabei zu sein. Dafür werde ich alles geben. pic.twitter.com/f6dh0JW3PS
— Jerome Boateng (@JB17Official) April 26, 2018
"For the remaining games this season I will support my team as well as it goes. Thanks for the many recovery wishes!"
Bayern also confirmed the nature of the injuries suffered by Arjen Robben and Javi Martinez during Wednesday's game.
Robben was replaced after eight minutes and has sustained an injury to his left groin, "triggered by a muscle disorder".
Martinez made way 15 minutes from time due to a head injury and has suffered bruising.
Jupp #Heynckes: "The early injuries made it tough to get into the game. We didn't take the chances that we created." #FCBRMA pic.twitter.com/dCQi5WRIlF
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) April 25, 2018
While the Spain international has been ruled out of training for the next two days, no such confirmation has been made for Robben.