FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Germany defensive midfielder Lars Bender will miss the World Cup because of a thigh injury.
The German Football Federation says Bender was injured in training in the team’s camp in northern Italy.
Bender’s injury increases problems for coach Joachim Loew in central midfield.
Sami Khedira is coming off a six-month layoff because of a knee injury, and Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm are also nursing injuries.
Bender, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, already has left the camp.
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