Real Madrid mainstay back in training with national team in time for Euro knockouts

The knockout stages of the UEFA Euro 2024 will kick off this Saturday, with a plethora of Real Madrid players still alive in the tournament.

Hosts Germany will lock horns with Denmark in their UEFA Euro 2024 Round of 16 clash on Sunday night in Dortmund.

Leading up to the clash, Julian Nagelsmann & co. have been handed a fresh injury boost as a key player returned to full training.

Antonio Rudiger trains again

Indeed, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has returned to full training today, providing Germany a much-needed boost.

Rudiger, 31, suffered a muscle strain during Die Mannschaft’s final group-stage encounter against Switzerland which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Since getting injured, the former Chelsea man had been mostly doing individual work inside the training facilities while focusing on his recovery.

Providing an update on the Real Madrid star yesterday, Germany’s Director of Football, Rudi Voller said: “Today he had a short running session in the morning. Now we have to wait day by day.”

Now, having seemingly recovered, Rudiger joined the rest of the Germany squad during today’s training session.

Indeed, the veteran centre-half was spotted being put through the paces along with his teammates during the 15-minute open training session while he continued to work with the rest of the group after that as well.

Rudiger’s return to training bodes well for Germany as they are already without one of their starting defenders, Jonathan Tah, for the Denmark clash due to suspension.

It is expected that Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund will take Tah’s place in the team and partner Rudiger, provided the Real Madrid ace is deemed fully fit enough to start.

If the 31-year-old is not cleared, Nagelsmann is expected to turn to Waldemar Anton of VfB Stuttgart.