BERLIN, Nov 5, (APP/AFP) – Bayern Munich centre-back Jerome Boateng will miss Germany’s 2018 World Cup qualifier at San Marino next Friday and the away friendly against Italy with a right knee and groin injury. The 28-year-old suffered the injury during Bayern Munich’s 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday, which kept the Bavarian giants three-points clear at the top. Boateng was substituted with 82 minutes gone in Munich. Germany are targeting a fourth straight qualifier win on Friday against San Marino, who are 199 places below the world champions in FIFA’s world rankings. Boateng is the latest star missing after Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil was left out of Germany’s final matches of 2016 as coach Joachim Loew named a squad which contains just nine of the players who lifted the World Cup two years ago. Germany are top of their qualifying group after three straight wins and Loew feels the time is right to blood new talent along the road to Russia 2018.