Late call-up for Tah

Germany have called up Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah to replace the injured Antonio Rudiger in their European Championship squad.

Roma centre-back Rudiger ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Germany’s first training session in France on Tuesday and was ruled out of the tournament.

Tah, 20, made his international debut in March’s friendly defeat to England and has been summoned to join Joachim Low’s squad at their training base in Evian.

Low announced the squad change at a press conference streamed live on the German Football Association’s video feed DFB-TV.

He said of Rudiger: “It’s very unfortunate to pick up such a bad injury on the first day of training. I feel very sorry for him.

“We have decided to call up Jonathan Tah. We wanted to replace Toni Rudiger with a centreback.”

Tah, having flown in from a holiday in Florida, will have a chance of featuring in Germany’s opening game against Ukraine on Sunday as Mats Hummels is also struggling with a calf injury.

Jerome Boateng seems certain to start in one of the centre-back positions, with Benedikt Howedes and Shkodran Mustafi the other specialist options – although one of that pair is likely to play at rightback. Midfielders Emre Can or Joshua Kimmich could also drop back into defence.

“Mats Hummels’ individual training is increasing in intensity,” Low said. “Julian Weigl, Joshua Kimmich and Lukas Podolski can join in again tomorrow.”

Joachim Low: forced to make a late change: .