Midfielder Lars Bender has been ruled out of Germany’s World Cup squad with a thigh injury picked up in training.

The Bayer Leverkusen man, 25, who has been capped 17 times by Germany, has not been replaced in the squad.

Germany coach Joachim Low has other injury worries including veteran Lazio striker Miroslav Klose, who has yet to train, and Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira.

“I feel personally very sorry for Lars because I know how much he wanted to be in Brazil,” Low said.

“When a player is ruled out so close before a tournament then it is very disappointing for everyone.”