Nagelsmann Concerned as Teen Sensation Karl Faces Injury Doubt
Germany’s World Cup preparations were jolted in Chicago as Julian Nagelsmann admitted teenage forward Karl is a serious doubt for the tournament after picking up an injury in training.
The 18-year-old, fresh from a breakout season with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and his first start for the national team, was sent to hospital for scans on the eve of Saturday’s friendly against the United States.
“To be honest, it didn't look good. He's going to the hospital now to get a scan done,” Nagelsmann said, visibly deflated as he addressed reporters.
The Germany coach refused to go into detail about the nature of the injury, stressing that both player and staff needed time to absorb what had happened.
“We need to process the situation first, and so does he. We need a diagnosis in order to do that. Then we'll see whether or not we call up a replacement.”
For Karl, the timing could hardly be crueller. The Bayern forward only made his top-flight debut this season but forced his way into Vincent Kompany’s title-winning side and then into Nagelsmann’s plans, his rise one of the more compelling stories of Germany’s build-up.
He started his first match for the national team in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Finland in Mainz, capping the occasion by setting up a goal and looking every bit at ease on the international stage. Four days later, his World Cup dream hangs in the balance.
Neuer's Absence
While Germany grapple with that blow, Nagelsmann also confirmed that Manuel Neuer will miss the clash with the United States as he continues his push for full fitness. The veteran goalkeeper, a 2014 World Cup winner, was recalled in May almost two years after announcing his international retirement, a decision that sparked intense debate in Germany.
Nagelsmann, though, sounded calm about the 38-year-old’s readiness for the tournament opener against Curacao on June 14.
“At his age, he doesn't need a warm-up phase,” the coach said. “He knows how to handle high-pressure situations. He's on his way to peak fitness. However, we don't want to take any risks tomorrow.”
So Germany head into their final warm-up game without their returning captain in goal and with their brightest young attacking spark awaiting scan results in a Chicago hospital.
The friendly against the United States was supposed to be a final tune-up. Instead, it may be remembered as the night Nagelsmann’s World Cup plans had to be rewritten on the fly.
