Gomez out of Germany squad

By foxsports
Published

Bundesliga top scorer Mario Gomez will miss Germany's home friendly against Italy on Wednesday due to sprained ligaments in his right knee.

The Bayern Munich striker, who has scored 16 league goals this season, was hurt in his club's 3-2 loss to Cologne on Saturday.

Gomez pulled out Monday and is currently the only withdrawal from coach Joachim Loew's squad, although doubts remain over midfielder Sami Khedira because of a leg injury.

Khedira remained on the bench for Real Madrid's 4-1 home won over Real Sociedad on Sunday, but flew with teammate Mesut Oezil afterward to join the rest of the squad.

Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff says "those who are there, can play" in the match at Dortmund.

Six other players sat out team training on Monday, although their participation is not thought to be in doubt.

Khedira and Oezil were among six other players who sat out team practice Monday to train individually. The others were Bayern's Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Mueller plus Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker.