Mats Hummels Illness: Latest Updates on Germany Star's Status and Return

Updates from Friday, July 4

Hummels is back in the lineup for Germany, per the official World Cup Twitter feed:

Updates from Thursday, July 3

Joachim Low updated Mats Hummels' status before Germany's quarterfinal matchup vs. France (via Miguel Delaney of ESPN):

Updates from Wednesday, July 2

Mats Hummels appears ready to return for Germany's World Cup quarter-final against France.

Hummels had been suffering with illness, but recently tweeted:

Original Text

Germany will be without the talents of defender Mats Hummels for Monday's round-of-16 tie against Algeria after it was revealed that the centre-back is struggling with illness.   

German football writer Clark Whitney cites a Der Westen report, revealing that Shkodran Mustafi will come into the line-up for his first World Cup start at right-back, leaving Jerome Boateng to slot into his more natural position at centre-back:

Hummels was later officially ruled out for the match when the starting lineup came out (via FIFA World Cup):

Low launched a slight surprise in fielding four centre-backs across his back line for the entirety of the group stages, with Benedikt Howedes and Boateng lining up on the left and right flanks, respectively, up until now.

As Whitney points out, Hummels' absence is a huge loss for Die Mannschaft, with the Borussia Dortmund talisman forming a stellar partnership alongside Per Mertesacker up to this point.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

However, the introduction of a more natural talent at right-back could yet see Germany play with an even greater attacking emphasis, but it will be of interest to see if that leaves them more exposed at the back.

Given that it's just a fever Hummels is contending with, one would imagine he can be fit in time to feature in the quarter-finals should Germany make their way past the Algerians.