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Schurrle out of Germany's World Cup qualifier with back ailment

Reuters

Berlin - A back problem has ruled winger Andre Schurrle out of Germany's friendly against Finland and the side's opening 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Norway.

The 25-year-old Schurrle was outstanding in creating Borussia Dortmund's first goal, then won the penalty which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converted, in Saturday's 2-1 home win over Mainz in opening the Bundesliga campaign.

But the performance has come at a cost as Schurrle will sit out Wednesday's friendly in Monchengladbach, which will be midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger's final international match, and the World Cup qualifier in Oslo next Sunday, the German FA (DFB) confirmed.

"I took a blow, which really affected my back," Schurrle told German magazine Kicker on Saturday, before his withdrawal was announced.

The friendly against Finland will be Schweinsteiger's 121st and final Germany appearance, having announced his retirement earlier this month.

The 32-year-old has been exiled from the Manchester United first-team squad by new head coach Jose Mourinho and banished to the reserves, but the ex-Bayern Munich star said last Wednesday that he has no plans to leave Old Trafford.

Head coach Joachim Low is expected to name Schweinsteiger's replacement in Monday's press conference.

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