CHICAGO, June 5 (Reuters) – Germany teenager Lennart Karl suffered an unspecified injury in training on Friday and is on the way to hospital, coach Julian Nagelsmann said as his team prepare for Saturday’s finalwarm-up against the U.S. ahead of the World Cup.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder was a surprise addition to Nagelsmann’s squad after his meteoric rise this season with domestic double winners Bayern Munich, but now his World Cup participation looks to be in doubt.
“Lenny was injured today. We have to see what it is. It does not look good,” Nagelsmann told a press conference ahead of Saturday’s friendly with the World Cup co-hosts.
“We will go tothe hospital to get scans calmly. Don’t start driving after him. Leave him alone,” Nagelsmann said. “You’ll get the news. He needs to process the situation himself.
“We need a diagnosis first and we will inform you whether we can hopefully continue with him or nominate someone else.”
The four-times championshave set their sights on winning the title after shock first-round exits at the previous two tournaments, in 2018 and 2022.
Germany have not tasted international success since winning their last World Cup title in Brazil in 2014.
They are in Group E and kick off their campaign against Curacao on June 14 before facing the Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ken Ferris)
