Bastian Schweinsteiger has said he can only "accept the situation like it is" after the Manchester United midfielder suffered a knee injury while training with the Germany national team earlier this week, while coach Joachim Low is still hopeful his captain will be fit in time for Euro 2016.
Schweinsteiger was ruled out for the upcoming Germany friendlies against England and Italy on Wednesday, when an MRI scan revealed he has partially torn the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
The 31-year-old is likely to miss the rest of United's Premier League campaign and is facing a race against time to return to full fitness for this summer's European Championship in France, which will start on June 10.
"I have to accept the situation like it is. And I will do that," the Germany captain told the DFB's official website late on Wednesday evening. "I've talked to the national team coach about my situation, and will be in close contact with him in the next few weeks."
Get well soon, skipper! @BSchweinsteiger sidelined with partial MCL tear: https://t.co/E3kM8KO3uc #DieMannschaft pic.twitter.com/yPbczwy7Ae
- Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) March 23, 2016
Low added that he has not written off his midfielder for the tournament in France, when Germany will be bidding to add the European Championship to the World Cup they won two years ago.
"It's bitter," Low said. "Bastian was on the right track. I know that he has been looking forward to his time with the national team and the two friendlies. I have told Bastian that I have not written him off for the European Championship.
"The tournament does not start tomorrow. There is still time, we don't have to make a decision today. Bastian is a top professional, his attitude has role-model character. I know that he will give it his all to return to full fitness for the tournament."
Schweinsteiger was named Germany captain following Philipp Lahm's retirement from international football after the World Cup. He has won 114 caps for Die Nationalmannschaft, but has only played in six of the team's 15 matches since that triumph in Brazil.
He is set to receive treatment at his club, who will work on Schweinsteiger's recovery with the Germany national team's doctors.