Injured Arslan out of U21 tournament
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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Germany and Hamburger SV midfielder Tolgay Arslan will not realise his "big ambition" of playing at next month's U21 finals because of a ligament injury in his left knee.
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Germany's Tolgay Arslan has been ruled out of next month's UEFA European Under-21 Championship by a cruciate ligament strain in his left knee.
The Hamburger SV midfielder, who made his U21 debut in November, missed the final three Bundesliga matches of the season as a result of the injury.
The 22-year-old was last week named in Rainer Adrion's provisional 25-man party for the tournament, which runs from 5−18 June, but has accepted he cannot travel to Israel in case he exacerbates the problem.
"The risk of injuring myself more seriously is still too great," he said. "It was a big ambition of mine to be part of these European Championships, but I have to be sensible. I will get back on the pitch when the new season comes around."
Germany open their Group B campaign on 6 June against the Netherlands, with games against holders Spain and Russia to follow.
