Germany coach Joachim Loew will miss the side's upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Belarus and Estonia to recover from a sporting accident.
The German football federation says “an artery was squeezed and it is necessary that he remains stationary. The treatment is going well, but the doctor advised the national coach to rest in the coming weeks.”
The DFB does not give details of the accident. German daily BILD reports Loew dropped a dumbbell on his chest while training some weeks ago.
Assistant coach Marcus Sorg is to take charge of the team with support from goalkeeping coach Andy Koepke and national team director Oliver Bierhoff.
“I am in constant contact with my coaching staff and we will also be in close contact with each other around the two international matches. Marcus Sorg, (goalkeeping coach) Andy Köpke and (team manager) Oliver Bierhoff have a lot of experience together and together we will bridge this short break well.”Joachim Loew, Coach, Germany Football Team
"The most important thing is that Jogi is back to full fitness in a few days," said Bierhoff.
“Even though I can tell he wants to be back on the training pitch, he is right to take care of himself. Marcus Sorg and Andy Koepke know the drill and the team very well, and they will discuss everything with Jogi anyway.”Oliver Bierhoff, National Team Director, Germany Football Team
The German squad will meet up in the Dutch town of Venlo on Sunday before facing Belarus in Borisov on June 8 and Estonia in Mainz on 11 June.
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