Nagelsmann Concerned Over Teen Star Karl's Injury Ahead of World Cup
Germany’s World Cup preparations were jolted in Chicago as Julian Nagelsmann admitted teenage forward Karl is a serious doubt for the tournament after suffering an injury in training.
The 18-year-old, fresh from a breakout season with Bayern Munich and a sparkling first start for the national team, was sent to hospital for scans, leaving his World Cup dream hanging by a thread.
“To be honest, it didn't look good. He's going to the hospital now to get a scan done,” Nagelsmann said on Friday, speaking ahead of Germany’s final warm-up game against the United States. “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.”
He did not disclose the nature of the injury, only the concern.
For Karl, the timing could hardly be crueller.
The forward forced his way into Vincent Kompany’s Bayern side this season, making his top-flight debut and quickly becoming part of the team that went on to win the Bundesliga. That surge of form carried him into the national setup, where he earned his first start in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Finland in Mainz and repaid the faith with an assist.
That performance looked like the start of a story. Now Germany are waiting to find out if it becomes a footnote.
Nagelsmann, who has leaned into youth and tempo in reshaping the squad, must now consider whether he will need to reshuffle his attacking options before naming a replacement.
Neuer Held Back, But World Cup Return Still on Track
While Karl’s status is uncertain, Nagelsmann drew a firmer line on Manuel Neuer. The veteran goalkeeper will not feature against the United States, ruled out of the friendly as he continues to build fitness.
Nagelsmann, though, still expects the 2014 World Cup winner to be ready for Germany’s opening World Cup match against Curacao on June 14.
“At his age, he doesn't need a warm-up phase,” the coach said of the 38-year-old. “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.”
Neuer’s presence in the squad remains one of the most striking storylines of Germany’s campaign. Recalled in May, almost two years after announcing his international retirement, he has been brought back for his experience and authority as much as his goalkeeping.
Germany now head into Saturday’s test in Chicago with their most experienced player watching from the sidelines and their brightest young forward waiting on a scan.
The friendly against the US was supposed to be a final tune-up. It has become something else: a night where Nagelsmann must balance preparation with preservation, and where the fate of an 18-year-old’s first World Cup hangs on a medical report.
