By Klaus Bergmann, dpa
Evian-les Bains, France (dpa) – Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah was nominated Wednesday as the replacement for the injured Antonio Ruediger on Germany’s squad for Euro 2016.
Tah will join the world champions after the Roma defender Ruediger tore cruciate knee ligaments in Germany’s first training upon arrival in France on Tuesday and was ruled out of Euro 2016.
«I wanted a situation of a one-to-one replacement at the position,»
Loew told a press conference on Wednesday.
«(Tah) had been in the inner circle and was with the team recently.
He also had been in training the last three weeks on an individual basis.»
The 20-year-old Tah missed the last few games of the Bundesliga season with Leverkusen due to a cast of food poisoning. But he continued to work out on his own to stay fit.
«I know that Jonathan Tah is very professional. He did quite a bit in the last three weeks, and it was enough that he would only need a few days or a week to reach a level that would allow him to play,» Loew said.
Tah earned his only cap for Germany in the 3-2 loss against England in Berlin in late March.
Ruediger is expected to miss six months of action with the knee injury.
«When this kind of injury happens on the first day it’s a real shame.
I’m also really sorry for Toni,» Loew said.
«He had really worked hard in the last two games and was really in a good form. He had an impressive will and desire in the games and training and I’m really sorry about it.»
Ruediger was expected to be the centre back replacement for injured Mats Hummels if the veteran was not fit in time for Germany’s first match at Euro 2016 against Ukraine on Sunday in Lille.
Hummels trained with the ball separately on Wednesday, about which Loew said: «I see a positive development. We will increase his workload in the coming days.»
Loew also talked about what his backline would look like if Hummels could not play against Ukraine.
«One possibility is Shkodran Mustafi, who has some experience in the team. The other is Benedikt Hoewedes moving inside to centre back and another player playing outside in the backline,» Loew said.
The coach noted that neither Mustafi nor Hoewedes have played alongside Boateng at centre back recently, though Boateng and Hoewedes teamed up at the U21 level a few years ago.
«We just need to test them and see how they work together,» Loew said.
