BERLIN -- Germany forward Lukas Podolski has been ruled out of the world champions' Euro 2016 qualifiers against Republic of Ireland and Georgia with a left ankle injury.
Podolski, 30, travelled with a swollen ankle and was diagnosed upon arrival at the training centre of the German football federation (DFB) in Frankfurt with "a painful capsule irritation of the left upper ankle joint."
.@Podolski10 has had to pull out of the squad for the upcoming internationals with an ankle injury. Full story: http://t.co/KMr5isv4oU
- Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) October 6, 2015
The DFB said Podolski left the team's base on Tuesday and was returning to his club Galatasaray for further treatment in Turkey.
Coach Joachim Low still has 22 players available in his squad, though Bayer Leverkusen winger Karim Bellarabi is a doubt with a shoulder problem.
Germany need one point from their final Group D games against Ireland in Dublin on Thursday or Georgia in Leipzig on Sunday to ensure qualification for their 12th consecutive European Championship.