Nagelsmann Faces Doubt Over Teen Sensation Karl Before World Cup

Germany’s World Cup preparations were jolted in Chicago as Julian Nagelsmann admitted teenage forward Karl is a major doubt for the tournament after suffering an injury in training.

The 18-year-old, fresh from a breakthrough season with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and his first start for the national team, was sent to hospital for scans. The mood around the camp shifted in an instant.

“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 on the eve of Germany’s final warm-up game against the United States.

The coach kept the exact nature of the injury under wraps, but his tone told its own story.

“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, yet forced his way into Vincent Kompany’s title-winning side and then into Nagelsmann’s World Cup squad. On Sunday in Mainz, he started his first match for Germany in a 4-0 win over Finland and marked the occasion with an assist, underlining why he had become one of the most exciting new faces in the squad.

Now, instead of building on that momentum against the US, he faces a nervous wait for medical results that could decide whether his first World Cup ends before it begins.

Neuer Held Back, But World Cup Return Still on Track

While Karl’s status hangs in the balance, Nagelsmann also confirmed that Manuel Neuer will not feature against the United States, though the veteran goalkeeper is still expected to be ready for Germany’s World Cup opener against Curacao on June 14.

Neuer’s presence in this squad is a story in itself. The 2014 World Cup winner was recalled in May, almost two years after announcing his international retirement, in a move that surprised many around the national team.

Nagelsmann, though, made it clear he trusts the 38-year-old to be ready when it matters.

“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 tune-up game without their returning No. 1 and with serious concern over their brightest young forward. The friendly in Chicago was supposed to sharpen details and fine-tune combinations; instead, it has become a test of resilience before a ball has even been kicked in Curacao.