After another World Cup, the disappointment at Marco Reus is huge.
"Unfortunately, a big dream of mine was shattered," said the Borussia Dortmund midfielder on Thursday on the Bundesliga club's website.
The 33-year-old injured his foot in mid-September.
After two brief game comebacks, he fell out again.
“After another setback in training on Sunday, everyone involved has tried everything possible over the past few days to make my participation in the World Championships possible.
However, my injured ankle wasn't enough for the World Cup," said Reus.
The BVB captain had already missed the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 due to a foot injury that he suffered in the last friendly before leaving for South America.
In 2016, the then national coach Joachim Löw struck him out of the squad before the European Championships in France because of his lack of fitness.
In 2018 in Russia Reus played his first and probably only World Cup.
"Now I wish my team in Qatar every conceivable success and I'll keep my fingers crossed from home," said Reus.
The fact that Reus is injured "just hurts us because we can use his quality well," said national coach Flick at the press conference on the nomination: "I've often said how much I appreciate him as a footballer.
With his gift, which he has in the last third, he is good for every team.
We will miss him.”
Flick justified the World Cup end for Reus' club colleague Mats Hummels by looking at younger central defenders.
"He's in excellent form and is in top form, but for us it's more of a look into the future," said the national coach at the presentation of his 26-man squad in Frankfurt/Main.
Hummels will be 34 in December.