Germany's World Cup bid has been hit by the news that Simon Rolfes and Rene Adler will miss the tournament.
Rolfes and Adler will be missing for Low's side
Germany's World Cup bid has been hit by a double injury blow with the news that Bayer Leverkusen's Simon Rolfes and Rene Adler will miss the tournament.
Midfielder Rolfes has been ruled out of this summer's finals because of a knee injury, while goalkeeper Adler needs rib surgery.
Rolfes, 28, has not played for Bayer since an operation in January and on Tuesday confirmed to Germany coach Joachim Low that he has lost his race to be fit for South Africa.
He told
www.dfb.de: "I am very pleased with the healing process but it is now definitively clear that the World Cup finals for me make no sense.
"My plan is now to look to start the new Bundesliga season fully fit.
Not easy
"Missing out on the World Cup is not easy.
"It only remains for me now to wish the team every success in South Africa."
Rolfes, who has 21 caps, last played for Germany in the 1-0 win over Russia last October which booked their place at the finals.
Germany coach Low admits his absence will be a blow to his side, saying: "The decision by Simon is the only correct one for the best possible recovery after surgery.
"We regret his absence, and hope he gets fit quickly."
Adler out
Meanwhile, Leverkusen team-mate Adler will also miss the World Cup after being told he needs rib surgery following an injury he picked up last month, the German soccer federation has confirmed.
His absence will be a major blow after he was recently picked by Low as the team's first-choice keeper ahead of Manuel Neuer and Tim Wiese and he was expected to hold that responsibility in South Africa.
But the 25-year-old, who won the first of his nine international caps in October 2008, is out after he broke a bone while on domestic duty against Stuttgart last month.
Low's side have been drawn in World Cup Group D alongside Australia, Ghana and Serbia.
