Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 6y

Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng risks missing World Cup with thigh injury

Jerome Boateng's participation at this summer's World Cup with Germany is in doubt after he picked up a thigh injury in Bayern Munich's 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Wednesday.

Boateng was substituted 34 minutes into the game after he had charged forward and made a long step before stopping, seemingly in pain.

On Thursday, the German FA announced that Boateng injured an adductor muscle in his left thigh, with reports indicating he could be sidelined between four and six weeks.

With the German domestic season ending with the DFB Pokal final on May 19, and the Champions League final being played the following week, the defender is unlikely to feature for Bayern again this term.

Boateng said via his Twitter account on Thursday: "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.

"For the remaining games this season I will support my team as well as it goes. Thanks for the many recovery wishes!"

Boateng is now also facing a race against time to return to full fitness for the World Cup in Russia. Germany's preliminary squad, which can include up to 35 players, must be confirmed by May 15, and the final 23-man squad list must be finalised by June 4.

Germany kick off the defence of the World Cup they won in Brazil in 2014 against Mexico in Moscow on June 17, before taking on Sweden and South Korea in their other Group F fixtures.

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